GMR Group-led Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) is taking the Union government to court for allowing commercial flights at a nearby terminal in Ghaziabad.
Air India Express began operating from Ghaziabad's Hindon Airport on March 1.
Current Ministry of Civil Aviation (MCA) policy prohibits the establishment of new greenfield airports within an aerial distance of 150 kilometers from an existing civilian airport. This guideline is intended to prevent redundant infrastructure and ensure the economic viability of existing airports.
According to a Reuters report, DIAL filed the lawsuit at the Delhi High Court on March 10, claiming that the government breached this MCA rule by permitting commercial flights at Hindon Terminal.
The report stated that DIAL argued that Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport will become "economically and financially unviable" due to the government’s decision.
Hindon Airport’s Commercial Foray
Located about 30 km from Delhi Airport, Hindon Airport was established to support the government's Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN). The airport is a civil enclave at the Hindon Air Force Station and is operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
The Indian Air Force granted permission in August 2017 for the construction of a civil enclave adjacent to the airbase. This facility, spanning 7.5 acres in Sikandarpur village, features a terminal building covering 5,425 square meters with eight check-in counters, capable of accommodating 300 passengers per hour. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the terminal on March 8, 2019.
The airport commenced commercial operations in October 2019, with Air Heritage operating flights to Pithoragarh using a nine-seater Super King Air B350 aircraft under the UDAN scheme.
Earlier this month, Air India Express began services from Hindon, offering direct flights to Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Goa, making it the first airline to operate from two airports in the NCR.
DIAL’s Earlier Attempt
In January last year, DIAL sued the government over a similar claim. At the time, the Centre argued in an affidavit to the Delhi High Court that DIAL had lost the bid for Jewar Airport in Noida and therefore had no right to oppose a third airport within a 150 km radius. This cleared the way for Hindon Airport’s commercial operations.
The AAI argued that Hindon Airport, operational as a civil enclave since 2017, was not a new greenfield airport. The government also stated that DIAL’s right of first refusal had already been exhausted when it lost the Jewar Airport bid to Swiss firm Zurich AG.
