Noida International Airport has appointed its Chief Financial Officer, Nitu Samra, as interim Chief Executive Officer in a leadership change aimed at accelerating the start of commercial flights.
The decision comes after aviation security authorities reportedly did not approve the continuation of former CEO Christoph Schnellmann in the role, as airport regulations require the chief executive to be an Indian citizen.
Samra, who has been associated with the airport project since 2021, will lead operations until a permanent CEO is selected by the board. Officials believe her appointment will ensure continuity and help complete the final steps needed before passenger services begin.
She has played a key role in the airport’s financial planning and project execution during its development phase. Her elevation is being seen as a practical move to keep the project on schedule while meeting regulatory norms.
Meanwhile, Schnellmann has been moved to the role of Executive Vice Chairman on the Board of Directors. He is expected to continue supporting the airport’s transition into full operations.
Located at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh, Noida International Airport is one of India’s biggest upcoming aviation projects and is expected to serve the Delhi-NCR region. It is also expected to reduce traffic pressure on Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The first phase of the airport includes one runway and one passenger terminal, with capacity to handle around 12 million passengers annually.
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