Hindon Airport

File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurating the Hindon Airport Civil Terminal.JPG

In 2017, the Ministry of Civil Aviation pre-emptively took up the idea of a civil enclave at Hindon with the IAF{{cite news|title= 'Hindon airbase to be used as second airport for RCS in Delhi' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/dial-gives-nod-to-use-of-hindon-airbase-for-rcs-flights/articleshow/60797140.cms |date=30 August 2017 |work=Business Standard |access-date= 10 October 2019}} because slot constraints at the Indira Gandhi International Airport prevented the operation of flights under the government's Regional Connectivity Scheme called UDAN.{{cite news|title= DIAL gives nod to use of Hindon airbase for RCS flights |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/dial-gives-nod-to-use-of-hindon-airbase-for-rcs-flights/articleshow/60797140.cms |date=22 September 2017 |work=The Times of India |access-date= 10 October 2019}} The Hindon civil enclave would then become the second airport in the National Capital Region for flights operating under UDAN.

Commercial flight operations from an airport within 150 km of Delhi Airport were not allowed, according to an agreement signed between the government and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL). Hence, the MoCA made a proposal, seeking clearance from DIAL for the temporary use of Hindon for flights awarded UDAN flights. DIAL approved the proposal in September 2017. When DIAL's on-going expansion of Delhi Airport is completed around September 2022,{{cite news|access-date=2018-10-11|title=You could board a flight from Gzb in Jan '19 - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/noida/you-could-board-a-flight-from-gzb-in-jan-19/articleshow/65956996.cms|newspaper=The Times of India}} all UDAN operations would revert to Delhi Airport.

The Indian Air Force permitted the Civil Aviation ministry to use the air base for civil operations in August 2017.{{cite news|title= Air Force: Can open up Hindan for flights under regional scheme |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/air-force-can-open-up-hindon-for-flights-under-regional-scheme/article9836149.ece |date=30 August 2017 |work=The Hindu Business Line |access-date= 9 July 2018}}{{cite news|title= Ghaziabad: Govt approves plan to operate regional flights from Hindan airbase |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/noida/ghaziabad-govt-approves-plan-to-operate-regional-flights-from-hindon-airbase/story-1Ab6FjOMLC9qMxEwSQxhjM.html |date=7 March 2018 |work=Hindustan Times |access-date= 9 July 2018}}

AAI began construction of the terminal in August 2018.{{cite news|title= Airport authority starts work on terminal facilities at Hindon airbase |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/noida/regional-flight-connectivity-scheme-airport-authority-starts-work-for-construction-of-terminal-facilities/story-6aupQGiz7NoDF6UvqQB8AN.html |date=21 August 2017 |work=Hindustan Times |access-date= 10 October 2019}} Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the passenger terminal built at a cost of {{INR}} 40 crores on 8 March 2019 just before model code of conduct.{{cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/pm-narendra-modi-inaugurates-civil-enclave-at-hindon-airport/articleshow/68322539.cms |title=PM Narendra Modi inaugurates civil enclave at Hindon airport - The Economic Times |publisher=Economictimes.indiatimes.com |date=2019-03-08 |access-date=2019-11-13}}

The operations from Hindon were expected to begin from 15 March. However, discussions on slot timings with the Indian Air Force regarding slots took longer than expected and the date for commencement of flight operations was pushed back to the first half of October 2019.{{cite news|title=Commercial Flights From Hindon Base Likely From Early October: Officials |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/commercial-flights-from-hindon-air-base-ghaziabad-likely-from-early-october-officials-2093226 |date=30 August 2017 |work=NDTV |access-date= 10 October 2019}}

The first commercial flight from the Hindon took off on 11 October 2019. A Beechcraft King Air, operated by Heritage Aviation under the UDAN scheme, took off for Pithoragarh Airport with nine passengers on board.{{cite news|title= Delhi's second airport begins operations|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/delhi-s-second-airport-first-commercial-flight-operation-starts-today-11570770614277.html |date=11 October 2019 |work=The Times of India |access-date= 11 October 2019}}

In May 2019, it was reported that the state government and AAI were considering making the airport permanent.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ghaziabad/temporary-hindon-civilian-airport-to-turn-permanent/articleshow/69225491.cms |title='Temporary' Hindon civilian airport to turn permanent? | Ghaziabad News - Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=2019-05-08 |access-date=2019-11-13}}

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The Hindon civil enclave was built on 7.5 acres at Sikandarpur village in Sahibabad, adjacent to the existing Indian Airforce airbase.{{cite news|title= Land identified for civilian flights from Hindan IAF base in Ghaziabad |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ghaziabad/land-identified-for-civilian-flights-from-hindon-iaf-base-in-ghaziabad/articleshow/61842288.cms |date=29 November 2017 |work=The Times of India |access-date= 9 July 2018}} The terminal was developed by AAI while the Uttar Pradesh government built the connecting roads and provides electricity for the project. Air traffic control is provided by the Indian Air Force.{{cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Industry/aXAaWrBbp4I8BrH9Wa5uNL/Delhi-to-get-second-airport-at-Hindon-by-February-next-year.html |title=Delhi to get second airport at Hindon by February next year |publisher=Livemint.com |date=2018-12-04 |access-date=2019-11-13}}

The terminal building is a pre-engineered, air-conditioned structure with eight check-in counters. The passenger terminal covers an area of 5,425 square metres and has a capacity of serving 300 passengers an hour. The car park can accommodate 90 cars.{{cite news|title= Hindon Airport begins operation |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/airlines-aviation/hindon-airport-begins-operation-check-location-flight-schedule-key-details-of-delhi-ncrs-2nd-airport/1732661/ |date=11 October 2019 |work=Financial Express |access-date= 11 October 2019}}

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|{{nowrap|Air India Express}} | Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar,{{cite news|last=Tripathi LM|first=Neha|title=Air India Express to begin operations from Hindon Airport|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/air-india-express-to-begin-operations-from-hindon-airport-101737613474425.html|work=Hindustan Times|date=23 January 2025|access-date=23 January 2025|language=en}} Chennai, Goa–Dabolim, Jaipur (begins 1 May 2025),{{Cite web |title=एक मई से पटना के लिए हिंडन एयरपोर्ट से उड़ान, बनारस और लखनऊ के लिए भी फ्लाइट की तैयारी |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/uttar-pradesh/ghaziabad/flights-from-hindon-airport-to-patna-will-start-flights-to-banaras-and-lucknow/articleshow/120247164.cms |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=Navbharat Times |language=hi}} Kolkata, Mumbai, Patna (begins 1 May 2025), Varanasi (begins 1 May 2025)

|FlyBig | Bathinda,{{cite news|last=Jha|first=Abhijay|title=Two routes to Punjab from Hindon terminal now, but services to Dehradun suspended|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ghaziabad/two-routes-to-punjab-from-hindon-terminal-now-but-services-to-dehradun-suspended/articleshow/103648649.cms|quote=Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann will formally inaugurate the route on September 18, Ratan Laxmanro Ambhore, the head of ground operations at Flybig, told TOI.|work=The Times of India|date=14 September 2023|access-date=14 September 2023|language=en}} Ludhiana

| Star Air | Bengaluru,{{cite news|title=Forget Delhi IGI Airport. Cheap Flights From NCR Hindon Airport Started For 6 Cities. Fare Only 1500 Rs.|url=https://delhibreakings.com/forget-delhi-igi-airport-cheap-flights-from-ncr-hindon-airport-started-for-6-cities-fare-only-1500-rs/|work=Delhi Breakings|date=20 March 2024|access-date=21 March 2024|language=en}} Jalandhar, Kishangarh, Nanded, Pune

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{{anchor | Transport | Connectiviy | Access }}

• Last-mile connectivity
• The four-wheeler taxi, three-wheeler autorickshaws, and two-wheeler rapido taxi rides are available to the IBST, railway stations.

• Inter-State Bus Terminals (ISBT)
• Kashmiri Gate Maharana Pratap ISBT: 18 km southwest of Hindon Airport, reachable by Red Line metro (Dilshad Garden metro station to Kashmere Gate metro station Gate-7 are 7 stops or 16 minutes), serves destinations in Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Himachal.
• Anand Vihar Swami Vivekanand ISBT: 9 km southwest of Hindon Airport, reachable by Red Line metro, serves destinations in Uttar Pradesh. It is next to the Anand Vihar RRTS metro.
• Sarai Kale Khan ISBT: 21 km southwest of Hindon Airport, reachable by Delhi-Meerut RRTS via Anand Vihar RRTS station, serves destinations in South Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and eastern Rajasthan.

• Metro
• Existing metro train: The closest metro stations are the existing Dilshad Garden metro station and Major Mohit Sharma Rajendra Nagar metro station on (Red Line), 5 km south of the airport. Gokulpuri metro station on the Pink Line is also located close to the airport to the west of airport.
• Planned metro - Gokulpuri-Hindon Airport-Arthala Pink Line Extension: In September 2024, the DMRC proposed extending the Pink Line 13 km from Trans-Yamuna North-East Delhi (existing Gokulpuri metro station of Red Line metro) to the west Ghaziabad (existing Arthala metro station of Red Line metro) via Hindon Airport connecting 2 existing Red Line metro stations with 10 new Pink Line stations namely Gol Chakkar, DLF, Shalimar Garden, Hindon Airport, Bhopura, Tulsi Niketan, Rajendra Nagar, New Karhaira Colony, Karhaira, and Loni Road Industrial Area.[https://www.timesnownews.com/delhi/new-metro-line-to-connect-north-east-delhi-with-trans-hindon-area-in-ghaziabad-article-113263970 New Metro Line To Connect North-East Delhi With Trans Hindon Area In Ghaziabad], timesnownews.com, 11 Sept 2024.

• Rapid Rail / RRTS
• Existing: Delhi–Meerut RRTS
• Future/under-construction:
• Delhi–Alwar Regional Rapid Transit System
• Delhi–Panipat Regional Rapid Transit System
• Ghaziabad–Jewar Regional Rapid Transit System

• Railway:
• Delhi Shahdara Junction railway station is the nearest major railway junction 8 km southwest of the Hindon Airport. Delhi Shahdara Junction railway station is also connected to the adjacent Shahdara metro station of Red Line only 1 station west of Dilshad Garden metro station.
• Delhi Junction railway station (Old Delhi Railway station): 18 km southwest of Hindon airport, closest to the Kashmiri Gate ISBT.
• New Delhi railway station: 18 km southwest of Hindon airport.
• Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station: 43 km southwest of Hindon airport.
• Bijwasan railway station: 43 km southwest of Hindon airport.

• Roads and highways
• Delhi–Dehradun Expressway:
• Delhi-Saharanpur NH-709B
• Hisar-Ghaziabad-Pithoragarh NH-9

• Airports
• IGI Delhi (IATA: DEL): 33 km southwest reachable via metro (Dilshad Garden to Kashmiri Gate ISBT by Red Line, Kashmiri Gate ISBT to New Delhi by Yellow Line, New Delhi to IGI by Orange Line - total 1 hour), RRTS, rail, bus or taxi.
• Noida International Airport (IATA: DXN): 75 km south, reachable via Yamuna Expressway, buses, rail, taxi, etc.
• Hisar Airport (IATA: HSS): 190 km west reachable via taxi via NH-9, bus from ISBT Kashmiri Gate, and rail from Delhi.

Hindon Airport's growth is significantly limited by poor last-mile as well as long-distance connectivity. The lack of a co-located central multi-model transport hub, direct metro, and unified bus terminal for all travel hinders passengers. They struggle to find direct transport to places like Ghaziabad railway station, face unreliable and expensive cabs, and often rely on inconvenient e-rickshaws/autos. Despite the nearby presence of Delhi Metro and Namo Bharat stations, the absence of direct extensions of these rail lines to Hindon Airport continues to be a problem, a situation worsened by the heavy traffic congestion on Wazirabad road. Moreover, the lack of essential direct bus and rail connections to IGI Delhi Airport, as well as the alternative airports in the NCR Plan, namely Noida and Hisar airports, further compounds the connectivity problems.[https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/noida-news/lastmile-connectivity-issues-surface-as-hindon-airport-expands-operations-101741719160910.html Last-mile connectivity issues surface as Hindon airport expands operations], Hindustan Times, 12 Mar 2025.

• List of airports in Uttar Pradesh
• Indira Gandhi International Airport

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.aai.aero/en/airports/hindon Official website]

{{Airports in India}}

{{Greater Delhi transit}}

Category:Indian Air Force bases

Category:Airports in Uttar Pradesh

Category:2017 establishments in Uttar Pradesh

Category:Airports established in 2017