Lucknow, June 15 -- Commercial flight operations at the Noida International Airport in Jewar will commence on Monday with the inaugural flight from Lucknow to Noida. Operated by IndiGo, the inaugural flight (6E-2278) will depart Lucknow at 7.05am and arrive in Noida at 8.05am. The return flight, 6E-2279, will leave Jewar at 6.55pm and reach Lucknow at 8pm. While the inaugural service will operate on June 15, regular scheduled flights on the route are expected to commence from July 1. The service will enable passengers to travel between the two cities in just about an hour. It is expected to benefit business travellers, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, students, and government officials seeking faster same-day connectivity. The new air link is seen as a key step in strengthening Uttar Pradesh's aviation network and supporting economic integration between the state's administrative and commercial centres. Currently, most travellers heading to Noida from Lucknow rely on flights to Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, followed by a road journey to Noida. A spokesperson for Lucknow Airport said, "The launch of this flight is expected to be followed by similar services from other airlines, strengthening connectivity between the state capital and commercial centres such as Noida." The Noida airport, located in Gautam Buddh Nagar district, is considered one of the Uttar Pradesh government's flagship infrastructure projects. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 28. Currently, booking data indicates that the inaugural Lucknow-to-Noida flight is priced at approximately Rs.7,697, while the return fare from Noida to Lucknow stands at around Rs.6,556, subject to change based on demand and availability. Developed over approximately 1,334 hectares, the project is planned in four phases. According to official projections, the airport's annual passenger handling capacity is expected to increase to 30 million by 2031, 50 million by 2036 and 70 million by 2040....