Translate
Airports & Aviation in UP
International and domestic airports, Jewar airport, UDAN scheme, and aviation development in Uttar Pradesh for UPSSSC AGTA exam.
Aviation Infrastructure in UP
Uttar Pradesh is rapidly expanding its aviation infrastructure with a target of 24 airports including 5 international facilities. With new greenfield projects and regional connectivity under the UDAN scheme, the state aims to become a major aviation hub in North India.
International Airports
1. Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (Lucknow)
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Amausi, Lucknow |
| IATA Code | LKO |
| Named After | Chaudhary Charan Singh (former PM from UP) |
| Terminal | New integrated terminal (expanded 2023) |
| Connectivity | Domestic + international (Gulf, SE Asia) |
- Busiest airport in UP by passenger traffic
- Handles flights to Dubai, Sharjah, Muscat, Bangkok and major Indian cities
2. Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (Varanasi)
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Babatpur, Varanasi |
| IATA Code | VNS |
| Named After | Lal Bahadur Shastri (former PM from UP) |
| Significance | Gateway for Kashi Vishwanath corridor tourism |
| International | Flights to Colombo, select Gulf destinations |
3. Kushinagar International Airport
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Kushinagar |
| Inaugurated | October 2021 (by PM Modi) |
| Purpose | Buddhist tourism circuit |
| Target | Pilgrims from Sri Lanka, Japan, Thailand, Myanmar, South Korea |
| Significance | Lord Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar |
Jewar/Noida International Airport — The Mega Project
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Noida International Airport (NIA) |
| Location | Jewar, Gautam Buddha Nagar |
| Status | Under construction |
| Scale | Asia’s largest planned airport |
| Runways | 2 initially, expandable to 6 |
| Capacity | 12 million passengers initially, up to 70 million |
| Operator | Yamuna International Airport Pvt. Ltd. (Zurich Airport) |
| Cost | ~Rs 29,560 crore (Phase 1) |
- Will be NCR’s second major airport after IGI Delhi
- Set to become North India’s major cargo hub with dedicated cargo terminal and logistics park
- Connected via Yamuna Expressway and proposed metro link
- Will serve western UP, Haryana, and Rajasthan catchment
Domestic Airports
| Airport | Location | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Kheria Airport | Agra | Defence + civil operations, tourist traffic |
| Gorakhpur Airport | Gorakhpur | Civil enclave at Air Force station |
| Bamrauli Airport | Prayagraj | Expanded for Kumbh Mela traffic |
| Chakeri Airport | Kanpur | Defence airbase with civil operations |
Newly Developed Airports
Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram Airport (Ayodhya)
- Inaugurated January 2024 (coinciding with Ram Temple consecration)
- Named after Lord Ram — Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram International Airport
- Design inspired by temple architecture
- Expected to handle massive religious tourism traffic
- Connected to Lucknow via road and proposed rail link
Other New/Proposed Airports
| Airport | Status | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Aligarh | Under development | Regional connectivity |
| Azamgarh | Proposed | Eastern UP connectivity |
| Chitrakoot | Proposed | Bundelkhand tourism |
| Shravasti | Proposed | Buddhist circuit extension |
| Jhansi/Gwalior belt | Under expansion | Defence + Bundelkhand tourism |
UDAN Scheme in UP
UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) — Regional Connectivity Scheme launched in 2016:
- Aims to make air travel affordable for common citizens
- Fares capped at Rs 2,500 for 1-hour flight
- UP has been a major beneficiary with multiple routes
- Routes include: Lucknow-Gorakhpur, Lucknow-Prayagraj, Agra-Lucknow
- Helicopter services under UDAN for hilly/remote areas
Air Cargo and Logistics
- Lucknow emerging as North India’s air cargo hub
- Perishable cargo centre at Lucknow airport (fruits, flowers, vegetables)
- Varanasi handles Banarasi silk and handicraft exports
- Jewar airport planned with dedicated cargo terminal and logistics park
- Multi-modal cargo hub vision: air + road + rail integration
Exam-Important Quick Facts
- Lucknow Airport: Chaudhary Charan Singh (Amausi)
- Varanasi Airport: Lal Bahadur Shastri (Babatpur)
- Kushinagar: International airport for Buddhist tourism circuit (2021)
- Jewar/Noida: Asia’s largest planned airport, Gautam Buddha Nagar
- Ayodhya: Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram Airport (2024)
- UDAN scheme: regional connectivity, Rs 2,500 cap
Key Takeaways
- UP targets 24 airports including 5 international facilities
- UP has 3 operational international airports: Lucknow, Varanasi, and Kushinagar
- Noida International Airport (Jewar) will be Asia’s largest when completed, set to become North India’s major cargo hub
- Kushinagar International specifically serves the Buddhist tourism circuit
- Ayodhya airport opened in 2024, designed for massive religious tourism
- The UDAN scheme has significantly improved regional air connectivity across UP
Summary Cheat Sheet
| Airport | Location | Type | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCS Airport | Lucknow (Amausi) | International | Busiest in UP |
| LBS Airport | Varanasi (Babatpur) | International | Kashi tourism gateway |
| Kushinagar | Kushinagar | International | Buddhist tourism (2021) |
| Noida (Jewar) | Gautam Buddha Nagar | International | Asia’s largest planned |
| Ayodhya | Ayodhya | Domestic/Intl | Ram Temple tourism (2024) |
| Kheria | Agra | Domestic | Defence + civil |
Knowledge Check
Take a dynamically generated quiz based on the material you just read to test your understanding and get personalized feedback.
Lesson Doubts
Ask questions, get expert answers
Lesson Doubts is a Pro feature.Upgrade