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Hindon and the case for efficient, low-cost airports
Hindustan Times Bengaluru
|November 28, 2025
A latecomer on India's aviation map, the Indian Air Force (IAF) ownedand-operated Hindon airport in Ghaziabad saw its first commercial flight in October 2019 - after much debate and discussion between the ministry of civil aviation (MoCA), IAF, and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL).
Initially, the idea was to promote regional connectivity and give a fillip to the UDAN scheme. While a few airlines started operating flights from Hindon, the pandemic caused curtains to fall after a short appearance on the aviation stage.
It was only in March 2025 that commercial operations were revived, when the low-fare airline of the Tatas, Air India Express (AIX), unable to secure time slots at the DIAL airport, began operating flights from Hindon. Now, the airline operates over 50 flights a week, to five destinations, from the airport. Soon after, Star Air (20 departures a week, to four destinations), and IndiGo (52 departures a week, to six destinations) also began operating flights from the facility, transforming the sleepy airport into a mini aviation hub in the national capital region.
The good news is that its popularity seems to be on the rise. Even though the airport is a far cry from the fancy private airports India's fliers have got accustomed to, people are beginning to appreciate its advantages.
This story is from the November 28, 2025 edition of Hindustan Times Bengaluru.
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