2600:1700:5390:4560:D43A:CFF2:CAA9:8AF1 at 06:37, 15 December 2022

2022-12-15T06:37:40Z

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{{Short description|Domestic airport in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India}}
{{distinguish|Hindan Air Force Station}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Hindon Airport
| nativename =
| nativename-a =
| nativename-r =
| image = Hindon Airport.jpg
| image-width = 250px
| caption =
| IATA = QAH <ref>flightradar24.com/airport/qah</ref>
| ICAO = VIDX
| type = Military/Public
| owner = [[Indian Air Force]]
| operator = [[Airport Authority of India]]
| city-served = [[National Capital Region (India)| National Capital Region]]
| location = [[Ghaziabad, India|Ghaziabad]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| metric-elev =
| elevation-m = 213.4
| elevation-f = 700
| coordinates = {{Coord|28.7057898|77.3421373|type:airport_region:IN-UP|display=inline,title}}
| website =
| pushpin_map = India Uttar Pradesh#India
| pushpin_mapsize = 250
| pushpin_map_caption =
| pushpin_label = '''QAH/VIDX'''
| pushpin_label_position = right
| r1-number = 09/27
| r1-length-m = 2743
| r1-length-f = 9000
| r1-surface = [[Concrete]] / [[asphalt]]
| stat-year = April 2021 - March 2022
| stat1-header = Passengers
| stat1-data = 27,794 {{increase}}
| stat2-header = Aircraft movements
| stat3-header =
| stat3-data =
| r2-number =
| r2-length-m =
| r2-length-f =
| r2-surface =
| stat2-data = 710 {{increase}}
| footnotes = Source: [[Airports Authority of India|AAI]]
}}

'''Hindon Airport''' {{Airport codes|QAH|VIDX}}, also spelled '''Hindan Airport''', is a [[civil enclave]] in [[Ghaziabad|Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh]], operated by the [[Airports Authority of India]] at [[Hindan Air Force Station|Hindon Air Force Station]] of the [[Indian Air Force]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/business/india-business/hindon-airport-in-ghaziabad-likely-be-operational-for-udan-flights-by-march/articleshow/67760287.cms |title=Hindon airport in Ghaziabad to be operational for UDAN flights by March - Times of India |publisher=M.timesofindia.com |date=2019-01-30 |access-date=2019-11-13}}</ref><ref name="HT2">{{cite news|title=Regional flights to 4 cities including Kannur and Hubli from Hindan airbase expected by October end |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/noida/regional-flights-to-4-cities-including-kannur-and-hubli-from-hindon-airbase-expected-by-october-end/story-yrydOBuyYGT9KXfR0UMFeI.html |date=5 July 2018 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date= 9 July 2022}}</ref> It is the second commercial airport in the [[National Capital Region (India)|Delhi NCR]] after [[Indira Gandhi International Airport]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/delhi-s-second-airport-to-operate-first-flight-from-tomorrow-11570689656434.html|title=Delhi's second airport to operate first flight from tomorrow|date=2019-10-10|website=[[livemint]]|access-date=2019-10-10}}</ref>
The airport was primarily built to handle flights operating under the Government's [[UDAN|regional connectivity scheme]] and hence reducing the burden of regional flights from Delhi's main airport. As of 2019, there are two airlines operating regional flights from the airport.{{cn|date=September 2021}}

==History==
[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurating the Hindon Airport Civil Terminal.JPG|thumb|left|Inauguration of the terminal on 8 March 2019 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi]]
In 2017, the [[Ministry of Civil Aviation (India)|Ministry of Civil Aviation]] pre-emptively took up the idea of a [[civil enclave]] at Hindon with the IAF<ref name="BS2">{{cite news|title= 'Hindon airbase to be used as second airport for RCS in Delhi' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/dial-gives-nod-to-use-of-hindon-airbase-for-rcs-flights/articleshow/60797140.cms |date=30 August 2017 |work=[[Business Standard]] |access-date= 10 October 2022}}</ref> because slot constraints at the [[Indira Gandhi International Airport]] prevented the operation of flights under the government's Regional Connectivity Scheme called [[UDAN]].<ref name="TOI2">{{cite news|title= DIAL gives nod to use of Hindon airbase for RCS flights |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/dial-gives-nod-to-use-of-hindon-airbase-for-rcs-flights/articleshow/60797140.cms |date=22 September 2017 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date= 10 October 2022}}</ref> The Hindon civil enclave would then become the second airport in the [[National Capital Region]] for flights operating under UDAN.
Commercial flight operations from an airport within 150 km of Delhi Airport were not allowed, according to an agreement signed between the government and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL). Hence, the MoCA made a proposal, seeking clearance from DIAL for the temporary use of Hindon for flights awarded UDAN flights. DIAL approved the proposal in September 2017. When DIAL's on-going expansion of Delhi Airport is completed around September 2022,<ref name="indiatimes1">{{cite news|access-date=2018-10-11|title=You could board a flight from Gzb in Jan ’19 - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/noida/you-could-board-a-flight-from-gzb-in-jan-19/articleshow/65956996.cms|newspaper=The Times of India}}</ref> all UDAN operations would revert to Delhi Airport.<ref name="TOI2"/>
The Indian Air Force permitted the Civil Aviation ministry to use the air base for civil operations in August 2017.<ref name="HBL1">{{cite news|title= Air Force: Can open up Hindan for flights under regional scheme |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/air-force-can-open-up-hindon-for-flights-under-regional-scheme/article9836149.ece |date=30 August 2017 |work=[[The Hindu Business Line]] |access-date= 9 July 2022}}</ref>
The Uttar Pradesh government gave its approval for the project in March 2018.<ref name="HT1">{{cite news|title= Ghaziabad: Govt approves plan to operate regional flights from Hindan airbase |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/noida/ghaziabad-govt-approves-plan-to-operate-regional-flights-from-hindon-airbase/story-1Ab6FjOMLC9qMxEwSQxhjM.html |date=7 March 2018 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date= 9 July 2022}}</ref>
AAI began construction of the terminal in August 2018.<ref name="HTT2">{{cite news|title= Airport authority starts work on terminal facilities at Hindon airbase |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/noida/regional-flight-connectivity-scheme-airport-authority-starts-work-for-construction-of-terminal-facilities/story-6aupQGiz7NoDF6UvqQB8AN.html |date=21 August 2017 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date= 10 October 2022}}</ref> Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] inaugurated the passenger terminal built at a cost of {{INR}} 40 crores on 8 March 2019 just before model code of conduct.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/pm-narendra-modi-inaugurates-civil-enclave-at-hindon-airport/articleshow/68322539.cms |title=PM Narendra Modi inaugurates civil enclave at Hindon airport - The Economic Times |publisher=Economictimes.indiatimes.com |date=2019-03-08 |access-date=2019-11-13}}</ref>

The operations from Hindon were expected to begin from 15 March. However, discussions on slot timings with the Indian Air Force regarding slots took longer than expected and the date for commencement of flight operations was pushed back to the first half of October 2019.<ref name="ND2">{{cite news|title=Commercial Flights From Hindon Base Likely From Early October: Officials |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/commercial-flights-from-hindon-air-base-ghaziabad-likely-from-early-october-officials-2093226 |date=30 August 2017 |work=[[NDTV]] |access-date= 10 October 2022}}</ref>
The first commercial flight from the Hindon took off on 11 October 2019. A [[Beechcraft King Air]], operated by Heritage Aviation under the UDAN scheme, took off for [[Pithoragarh Airport]] with nine passengers on board.<ref name="MINT">{{cite news|title= Delhi's second airport begins operations|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/delhi-s-second-airport-first-commercial-flight-operation-starts-today-11570770614277.html |date=11 October 2019 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date= 11 October 2022}}</ref>
In May 2019, it was reported that the state government and AAI were considering making the airport permanent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ghaziabad/temporary-hindon-civilian-airport-to-turn-permanent/articleshow/69225491.cms |title=‘Temporary’ Hindon civilian airport to turn permanent? | Ghaziabad News - Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=2019-05-08 |access-date=2019-11-13}}</ref>

== Structure ==
The enclave has been built on 7.5 acres at Sikandarpur village in Sahibabad, adjacent the airbase.<ref name="TOI1">{{cite news|title= Land identified for civilian flights from Hindan IAF base in Ghaziabad |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ghaziabad/land-identified-for-civilian-flights-from-hindon-iaf-base-in-ghaziabad/articleshow/61842288.cms |date=29 November 2017 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date= 9 July 2022}}</ref> The terminal building is a pre-engineered, air-conditioned structure with eight check-in counters. The terminal covers an area of 5,425 square metres and has a capacity of serving 300 passengers an hour. The car park can accommodate 90 cars.<ref name="TFE">{{cite news|title= Hindon Airport begins operation |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/airlines-aviation/hindon-airport-begins-operation-check-location-flight-schedule-key-details-of-delhi-ncrs-2nd-airport/1732661/ |date=11 October 2019 |work=[[The Financial Express (India)| Financial Express]] |access-date= 11 October 2022}}</ref>
Air traffic control will be provided by the [[Indian Air Force]].<ref name="livemint.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Industry/aXAaWrBbp4I8BrH9Wa5uNL/Delhi-to-get-second-airport-at-Hindon-by-February-next-year.html |title=Delhi to get second airport at Hindon by February next year |publisher=Livemint.com |date=2018-12-04 |access-date=2019-11-13}}</ref><ref name="indiatimes1"/> The terminal has been developed by AAI while the Uttar Pradesh government has built the connecting roads and provides electricity for the project.<ref name="HTT2"/>

==Airlines and destinations==

{{Airport-dest-list
|[[Star Air (India)|Star Air]]| [[Hubli Airport|Hubli]], [[Kalaburagi Airport|Kalaburagi]]}}

==Access==
The closest metro stations are Dilshad Garden and Major Mohit Sharma Rajendra Nagar Metro Station [Red Line], 5 km away from Hindon Airport. Gokulpuri Metro Station situated at the Pink Line of the Delhi Metro is also close to the airport.

==References==
{{reflist}}

<br />
{{Airports in India}}
{{Greater Delhi transit}}
[[Category:Indian Air Force bases]]
[[Category:Airports in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:2017 establishments in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Airports established in 2017]]

Hindon Airport - Revision history

2600:1700:5390:4560:D43A:CFF2:CAA9:8AF1 at 06:37, 15 December 2022