## Noida International Airport Conducts First Calibration Flight
The Noida International Airport, currently under construction, successfully completed its first calibration flight on Thursday. This crucial step verifies and fine-tunes the airport's navigation aids, runway lighting, and airspace, ensuring safety and accuracy before commercial operations begin. Additionally, the flight allows pilots to familiarize themselves with the airport layout and procedures.
"A bright and sunny day at #NIAirport set the perfect stage for a DVOR calibration flight, the first of many. The Beechcraft King Air B300 took to the skies to ensure all Airports Authority of India (AAI) navigation equipment works flawlessly," the Noida International Airport announced on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The Noida airport is expected to commence operations by December 2023 and handle an estimated 9.4-11.7 million passengers in 2025-26, according to aviation consultancy firm CAPA India.
However, the new airport faces potential competition from the established Delhi airport. CAPA India predicts intense competition between the two, even before Jewar's airport begins operations.
A significant factor influencing this competition is the difference in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) tax. Delhi airport currently charges a 25% VAT on ATF for domestic flights, while Noida airport will only charge 4%. This disparity could impact airline capacity allocation and expansion decisions, as ATF constitutes about 40% of an airline's costs in India.