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Noida International Airport has appointed Nitu Samra as its interim chief executive officer, the company said on Friday, following regulatory requirements that airport CEOs in India be Indian nationals.
The leadership change comes after directions from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security mandating that the top executive at airports in the country must hold Indian citizenship.
Samra, who has served as chief financial officer since October 2021, takes over the role with immediate effect. She has been closely involved in the airport’s development, overseeing financial management, governance and strategic planning during a critical phase of the greenfield project.
Outgoing CEO Christoph Schnellmann, who led the airport since August 2020, will transition to the board as executive vice chairman, where he will continue to support the project as it moves toward operational readiness.
Daniel Bircher, chairman of Yamuna International Airport Private Limited, said the restructuring ensures compliance with regulatory requirements while maintaining continuity in leadership following the airport’s inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March.
He added that the revised leadership team would help facilitate a smooth transition into operations, supported by governance and corporate structures already in place.
The airport, developed by YIAPL — a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG — is being built under a public-private partnership with the Uttar Pradesh and Indian governments.
Located in the greater Delhi region, the airport is expected to serve as a major aviation hub for western Uttar Pradesh and the National Capital Region. In its initial phase, it will operate with one runway and terminal, handling up to 12 million passengers annually, with plans for future expansion.
The project is also positioned as a driver of regional economic growth, with a focus on sustainable design and a long-term goal of achieving net-zero emissions.
