Noida International Airport (NIA) has restructured its leadership following a directive from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) requiring the Chief Executive Officer of an airport in India to be an Indian national, according to a statement issued by the airport operator on Friday, 24 April 2026.
With immediate effect, Nitu Samra has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer on an interim basis, pending the conclusion of a formal selection process by the Board of Directors.
Samra has been serving as Chief Financial Officer of Noida International Airport since October 2021 and has been involved in the airport’s development phase, overseeing financial stewardship, governance, and strategic planning during a key phase of the project.
The leadership change comes shortly after the airport’s inauguration in March 2026, as the project transitions towards the start of operations.
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Christoph Schnellmann, who has led the airport as Chief Executive Officer since August 2020, will now move to the Board of Directors as Executive Vice Chairman.
In this role, he will continue to support the project and its transition into operational readiness.
Daniel Bircher, Chairman of Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), said the restructuring ensures compliance with BCAS requirements while maintaining continuity in leadership as the airport moves towards operations.
He added that the revised leadership structure is expected to support a smooth transition into operations, guided by clear and transparent governance and a strong corporate culture.
Noida International Airport is being developed as a greenfield aviation hub to serve the greater Delhi region and western Uttar Pradesh.
The project is being implemented by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, under a public-private partnership model with the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Government of India.
The concession period for the airport began on 1 October 2021 and extends for 40 years.
In its first phase, the airport will operate with one runway and one passenger terminal with an annual capacity of 12 million passengers.
The long-term masterplan provides for phased expansion to handle over 70 million passengers annually.
