The Moradabad airport in Uttar Pradesh has ceased all commercial operations, leaving its runway empty and its terminal unused [1].
The facility's failure highlights the volatility of regional connectivity projects in India, where infrastructure investment does not always guarantee sustainable airline interest.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the airport in August 2024 [1]. The project was built under the UDAN regional connectivity scheme on land donated by the residents of Bhadasana village [1]. It was intended to improve regional travel and boost the local brassware export industry [1].
Commercial services began with flights to Lucknow, operated by FlyBig [1]. However, these operations lasted for approximately three months [2]. All commercial flights stopped on Nov. 2, 2024 [1].
The exit of FlyBig left the airport without a carrier, turning the site into what reports describe as a ghost terminal [1]. The facility now stands as an unused asset despite the high-profile nature of its opening.
Moradabad was one of seven UDAN airports built under the scheme [1]. Current data indicates that only Ayodhya remains functional among those sites [1].
“The Moradabad airport in Uttar Pradesh has ceased all commercial operations.”
The collapse of operations at Moradabad airport underscores a systemic risk in the UDAN scheme, where the government provides the infrastructure but relies on private carriers for viability. When a single operator like FlyBig withdraws, the entire investment becomes stranded. The fact that only one of seven such airports remains functional suggests a broader struggle to maintain commercial interest in regional hubs outside of major pilgrimage or tourist centers.
