Zurich Airport’s Ambitious India Project Takes Flight Amidst Local Discontent
Despite delays and local opposition, Zurich Airport is pushing forward with the construction of the Noida International Airport, a massive undertaking poised to significantly expand air travel capacity in India. The project, representing a 750 million franc investment, aims to serve 70 million passengers annually – more than double the volume handled at Zurich Airport itself in 2024 – but its development has come at a cost to local farmers who have lost their land and livelihoods.
Construction crews are working at a feverish pace, cleaning and building within the still-empty departure hall, according to airport boss Christoph Schnellmann. “We are still building under high pressure everywhere and everywhere,” Schnellmann stated. The project began five years ago when Zurich Airport was awarded the contract for the new airport in the Indian capital, though the initial launch date was missed by a year.
For Zurich, India represents a crucial growth market, with air traffic increasing at a double-digit rate for two decades. Schnellmann anticipates this trend will continue as a growing middle class gains access to air travel. Zurich Airport has prior experience in the region, having previously built Bangalore Airport. The new Noida International Airport, located two hours south of Delhi, is being developed in partnership with the government of Uttar Pradesh.
The scale of the project is immense. Zurich Airport not only plans to build the airport but will also operate it for the next 40 years. The facility is designed to alleviate pressure on the existing, overcrowded Delhi Airport, which currently handles only 12 million passengers.
However, the airport’s location, chosen solely by the Uttar Pradesh government, has drawn criticism from Indian media. Schnellmann explained, “The location, the acquisition of land, everything is organized and planned by the state.” Zurich Airport received use of the land in 2021, but the process has left many local residents feeling disenfranchised.
The human cost of the project is becoming increasingly apparent. Farmers who once tilled the land now find themselves displaced and struggling to rebuild their lives. “This is not your land on which the airport is being built! This is our country!” exclaimed one former farmer, Suraj, voicing the frustration felt by many in the community.
Seven years ago, residents were offered a choice: 5,000 francs in cash for their homes or a government job. Most opted for the security of employment, but many are still waiting for those positions to materialize. Thousands of families have already been relocated, with more expected to follow as the airport expands. Lists documenting the promises made to farmers seven years ago are now circulating among the displaced.
“They ran from Pontius to Pilate to stake their claim,” Suraj lamented, “Vain.” The farmers are now appealing to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh for assistance, believing that local authorities are responsible for the alleged fraud. “This airport is only for the rich,” Suraj added, “They took away our existence.” Where villages once stood, parking lots and runways now dominate the landscape. Attempts to obtain comment from MP Dhirendra Singh and the head of government were unsuccessful.
The new settlement where the farmers have been relocated offers little comfort. Residents report a lack of basic amenities, including running water and proper waste disposal. “They promised us running water and toilets,” one resident stated, “But there hasn’t been any water to date and we had to build the toilets ourselves.” The atmosphere is bleak, with the smell of burning garbage permeating the air. Many children are not attending school, and adults spend their days playing cards, lacking opportunities for meaningful employment. It is a stark contrast to the gleaming vision of the airport the government promotes.
