IndiGo launches flights from Hindon airport to 9 cities; minister flags growth of regional aviation; UDAN 2.0 targets 120 new destinations by 2035

NEW DELHI: Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Sunday flagged off a major expansion in regional air connectivity from Hindon Airport, launching IndiGo’s services to nine Indian cities. This marks IndiGo’s debut at the NCR-based airport, following Air India Express, which began operations just four months ago.With IndiGo flights now connecting Hindon to Bengaluru, Kolkata, Varanasi, Goa, Patna, Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Indore, the airport steps up as NCR’s second civilian aviation hub alongside Delhi’s IGI Airport.Calling the expansion a “success of the UDAN scheme and the aspirations of common Indians,” Minister Naidu said, “This is an Udan of Hindon, Ghaziabad, western Uttar Pradesh, and the entire country.”He highlighted the rapid growth in India’s aviation sector: “In the past decade, our airlines, airport terminals, and flyers have doubled. In the next 10 years, tier II and III cities will drive this growth, and Hindon will be a shining example.”Hindon Airport was redeveloped in 2019 at a cost of Rs 50 crore under the UDAN regional connectivity scheme, in collaboration with the Indian Air Force. Back then, annual flyers numbered just 8,000. Today, that figure has crossed 80,000.The minister linked today’s launch to the government’s broader ambition of transforming India into a global aviation hub by 2030. The Union Budget 2025-26 also unveiled a revamped UDAN scheme targeting 120 new destinations and 4 crore additional passengers over the next decade.“With IndiGo’s entry, Hindon is now more than just an alternate airport, it’s a gateway to new opportunities,” Naidu said.