After government no to expat, Noida Airport gets an Indian as interim CEO; Christoph elevated to board

NEW DELHI: Following a govt directive to have an Indian as chief executive officer before becoming operational, Noida International Airport (NIA) has appointed its CFO Nitu Samra as interim CEO till a regular appointment is made. Christoph Schnellmann, a Swiss national who has been CEO since Aug 2020, will join the airport’s board of directors as executive vice-chairman.

The home ministry had recently rejected Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) proposal for amending the current rule disallowing expats from being CEOs of a greenfield airport. To avoid a further lag in becoming operational, the already delayed airport has affected this change of guard.

“….. changes to its leadership structure… follow directions issued by BCAS that the CEO of an airport in India is required to be an Indian national. With immediate effect, Nitu Samra has been appointed as CEO on an interim basis, until the board of directors can conclude a formal selection process,” NIA said in a statement. She has been the airport’s CFO since Oct 2021 and closely involved in the airport’s development journey.

“Christoph Schnellmann will join the airport’s board of directors as executive VC. In this role, he will continue to support the project and its transition to operations,” the statement added.

In a statement, NIA this Tuesday had said it is “working closely with BCAS to secure approval for the aerodrome security programme (ASP).” Sources say it takes about 30-40 days for an airport to become operational after getting the ASP. PM Modi had inaugurated NIA on March 28. Now it remains to be seen when the airport starts handling flights, although to avoid any additional delay NIA has appointed an Indian as an interim CEO.

To give some recent timeframes, Goa’s second airport at Mopa was inaugurated on Dec 11, 2022, and it started operations within a month from Jan 5, 2023. Navi Mumbai became operational on Dec 25, 2025, just over two months after being inaugurated on Oct 8.

Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd chairman Daniel Bircher said: “After the inauguration of NIA by the PM in March 2026, the goal was to enable the start of operations as early as possible. This management change brings the airport into compliance with BCAS requirements while maintaining continuity in the airport’s leadership team. The newly structured team will support a smooth transition into operations, guided by clear and transparent governance and a strong corporate culture.”

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