After Air India, IndiGo Launches Flights from Hindon Airport, Connecting 9 Cities

In a major boost to regional air travel, IndiGo Airlines has officially begun flight operations from Hindon Airport in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. This makes IndiGo the second airline after Air India Express to operate from the regional airport, further expanding the National Capital Region’s (NCR) aviation connectivity.

The new flights were launched on Saturday by Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, as confirmed by news agency ANI.

Hindon Airport Now Linked to 9 Indian Cities

With IndiGo’s entry, Hindon Airport (HDO) is now connected to nine major Indian cities:

• Indore

• Bengaluru

• Kolkata

• Varanasi

• Goa

• Patna

• Chennai

• Mumbai

• Ahmedabad

This development significantly improves domestic travel options for NCR residents, easing the load on Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and promoting decentralized air traffic.

A Landmark Moment Under the UDAN Scheme

Calling it a “landmark moment,” Minister Kinjarapu emphasized the achievement as a success of the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme—a regional connectivity initiative launched in 2017.

“This is an UDAN success for Hindon, Ghaziabad, western Uttar Pradesh, and the entire country. This is an UDAN of the ambitions and aspirations of common Indians,” he told ANI.

The minister noted the massive growth in India’s civil aviation industry over the last decade, with airline fleets, passenger numbers, airport capacities, and terminals all having doubled.

Hindon’s Rise from Military Base to Civil Aviation Hub

Hindon Airport was originally developed as a civil enclave on an Indian Air Force base and was operationalized under the UDAN scheme in 2019. The project involved a capital investment of ₹50 crore and was aimed at enhancing regional connectivity in Tier II and Tier III cities.

From a modest 8,000 annual passengers in 2019, Hindon Airport now handles over 80,000 flyers annually, reflecting a tenfold growth in just six years.

Minister Kinjarapu highlighted Hindon as a future model for regional aviation:

“During 2024–2034, civil aviation in Tier II and III cities will grow, and we will have to unlock the potential. Hindon will serve as an example.”

Air India Express Also Joins Hindon Operations

Just hours before IndiGo’s launch, Air India Express marked its own entry into Hindon by landing its inaugural flight from Kolkata. The airline has already begun operating direct flights to Bengaluru, Goa, and Kolkata, offering even more domestic travel options to NCR passengers.

With two major carriers now operational, Hindon Airport is on track to become a vital regional air hub, reducing dependency on Delhi’s main airport and offering easier access to air travel for neighboring regions in Uttar Pradesh.

Budget 2025-26 Gives Fresh Push to Regional Aviation

The Union Government, in its Budget 2025–26, reaffirmed its commitment to boosting domestic air travel through a modified UDAN scheme. The new version of the scheme aims to:

• Connect 120 new destinations

• Serve 4 crore passengers over the next 10 years

The minister confirmed that the government’s vision includes making India a global aviation hub by 2030, with an emphasis on developing underserved and unserved airports across the country.

UDAN: Bridging the Aviation Gap

Launched in 2017, UDAN aims to bring air connectivity to small cities and rural areas by offering affordable airfare and incentivizing airlines to operate on low-traffic routes. Since its inception, the number of operational airports in India has doubled, and regional airports like Hindon are a testament to the scheme’s success.

Conclusion

The launch of IndiGo’s operations from Hindon Airport marks a milestone in India's regional aviation journey. With improved access to nine key cities and growing infrastructure, Hindon is set to play a pivotal role in expanding air travel accessibility in the NCR and beyond. Backed by strong government support through schemes like UDAN, India’s regional aviation sector is poised for accelerated growth in the coming decade.