Commercial flight operations officially commenced at Noida International Airport in Jewar on Monday, marking a major milestone for air connectivity in Uttar Pradesh as the first scheduled IndiGo flight arrived from Lucknow before continuing onward to Bengaluru.IndiGo flight 6E-2278 landed at the newly operational airport from Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport and later departed for Bengaluru, where it was scheduled to arrive at 11.05 am.Passengers travelling through the airport expressed excitement over the launch, saying it would save them the time and hassle involved in reaching Delhi’s airports.”I am very excited, as it used to take us a lot of time to reach Delhi. We are very happy as the commercial flight operations are beginning today,” a passenger said.Another traveller heading to Bengaluru said the new airport offered a smoother travel experience.”I am very excited as I am travelling to Bengaluru for the first time from Noida Airport. I didn’t face any traffic while coming here, unlike my trips to Delhi Airport, where I usually encountered heavy traffic. The airport is very modern and well-developed,” the passenger said.The airport’s opening was also welcomed by local farmers whose ancestral lands were acquired for the project. Many said they viewed the airport as a symbol of development that would create opportunities for future generations.”The airport has been built on our land. We are very happy as we have become partners in the nation’s development. This will provide employment opportunities for future generations,” a farmer said.In a symbolic gesture, around 170 farmers from the Jewar region, including 20 women, who voluntarily contributed land for the airport project, are set to travel on an inaugural flight to Lucknow later in the day. The delegation, led by Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh, will meet Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to thank him for the state’s development initiatives and the establishment of the airport.The launch of commercial operations is expected to enhance regional connectivity, reduce travel time for residents of western Uttar Pradesh and accelerate economic growth by transforming Jewar into a major aviation and logistics hub.Inputs from ANI