The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
Noida airport eyes CAT III certification to help ease flight operations if fog hits Delhi this winter
Every winter, dense fog at Delhi’s IGI Airport triggers flight delays, cancellations and diversions that disrupt schedules across India because of its role as a major aviation hub. Noida International Airport, recently renamed Narendra Modi International Airport, could ease some of that pressure by giving NCR a second airport capable of operating in low visibility conditions.
Noida International Airport, renamed Narendra Modi International Airport, is pursuing DGCA certification for CAT III landings to support operations in extremely low visibility.
The facility, which began operations on June 15, features a 3,900-metre runway equipped with an Instrument Landing System and a full aeronautical ground lighting system designed to enable CAT III operations.
DGCA inspections and trial runs are required to determine infrastructure readiness and regulatory flight calibration schedules before the certificate can be issued, a process that typically takes three to four months.
Currently, NIA is coordinating with airlines and agencies on visibility monitoring, lighting, navigation aids and passenger information as it prepares for potential international cargo and passenger operations pending regulatory approvals.
IndiGo and Akasa Air operate 35 daily flights from NIA to 16 cities, and domestic passenger numbers have varied since operations began, with no confirmed date yet for international flights.