Hindon Airport, located in Ghaziabad on the outskirts of Delhi, is set to commence daily commercial flights to Varanasi and Patna starting May 1. The move is expected to offer greater convenience to travelers in the National Capital Region (NCR), particularly those in western Uttar Pradesh, who previously had to rely on Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in Delhi for similar connections.
The announcement, made by civil aviation authorities and airline operators, signals a renewed focus on strengthening tier-2 and tier-3 city connectivity under the government’s UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme. The daily services will be operated by IndiaOne Air, a regional airline that has been expanding its footprint steadily in northern and eastern India.
The new routes mark an important step for Hindon Airport, which was opened for civilian use in 2019 but has seen limited commercial activity due to the dominance of the much larger IGI Airport. However, with rising passenger traffic in the NCR and increasing demand for direct flights to pilgrimage and business hubs like Varanasi and Patna, Hindon is poised to play a larger role in regional air travel.
According to airport officials, flights to Varanasi will depart Hindon in the morning and return by afternoon, while the Patna route will have evening departures and late-night returns, allowing passengers to plan same-day return trips if needed. The routes are being positioned as ideal for religious tourism, business travel, and family visits — particularly given Varanasi’s significance as a spiritual center and Patna’s status as a growing economic and educational hub.
For residents of Ghaziabad, Noida, and other parts of western UP, the development is being hailed as a game-changer. Traveling to Delhi airport often involves navigating heavy traffic and long transit times. In contrast, Hindon Airport’s location offers a much more accessible alternative. With a user-friendly terminal, minimal crowding, and shorter security lines, the passenger experience is expected to be smoother and more efficient.
The decision also aligns with the government’s broader aim of enhancing last-mile air connectivity and decongesting major airports. By diverting short-haul, point-to-point flights to smaller airports like Hindon, authorities hope to optimize capacity and reduce operational stress at IGI, which is currently one of the busiest airports in Asia.
IndiaOne Air has indicated that the initial response to the new routes has been promising, with strong pre-bookings and inquiries from both leisure and business travelers. The airline plans to deploy its 9-seater and 19-seater aircraft on these routes, allowing for flexible operations and quick turnaround times. Depending on demand, there are also plans to scale up frequencies or introduce additional destinations in the near future.
Local business chambers and travel associations have welcomed the move. “This is a long-awaited development,” said a Ghaziabad-based tour operator. “Pilgrims traveling to Varanasi and families visiting Patna now have a far more convenient option. It also opens up new economic opportunities for the region.”
Beyond convenience, the new flights are expected to generate jobs and spur economic activity in the vicinity of Hindon Airport. With improved connectivity, tourism, trade, and local businesses stand to benefit. Analysts believe that consistent operations and expansion of routes could help establish Hindon as a robust secondary airport for the NCR, complementing Delhi’s aviation ecosystem.
Looking ahead, there is growing optimism that Hindon Airport will add more destinations, including cities in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. If the upcoming Varanasi and Patna routes perform well, they could pave the way for a broader network of regional flights originating from Hindon.
As the aviation sector continues to recover and expand post-pandemic, the launch of these daily services underscores the potential of smaller airports to play a key role in India’s air travel future. For now, come May 1, travelers in and around Ghaziabad can look forward to a shorter route to two of India’s most significant cities — and a more connected tomorrow.