Noida International Airport Appoints Nitu Samra as Interim Chief Executive Officer

Noida International Airport Seeks to Expedite Operations with New Indian Interim CEO

Noida International Airport Ltd has appointed Nitu Samra, its chief financial officer since October 2021, as the interim chief executive officer (CEO) with immediate effect. This move follows the denial of security clearance to the airport's previous Swiss CEO, Christoph Schnellmann, by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

According to a company statement, Samra will serve as interim CEO until the board of directors concludes a formal selection process. This change in leadership is aimed at expediting approvals to start commercial flights at the airport, which is yet to commence services. The first phase of the airport is designed to handle 12 million passengers annually, with plans for further expansion.

The denial of security clearance to Schnellmann was due to his foreign nationality and regulatory requirements, including the need for Indian nationals to head greenfield airports in the country. As CEO, Schnellmann also held the role of designated security coordinator, which involves access to sensitive infrastructure and security-related data. This necessitates Indian citizenship, as explained by a government official.

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Schnellmann will transition to the role of executive vice president and remain on the board of Yamuna International Airport Pvt. Ltd, the project developer and a wholly owned unit of Zurich Airport International AG. Zurich Airport will also manage the airport.

The company stated that the management change brings the airport into compliance with security norms while ensuring continuity in leadership. A formal search for a permanent CEO is underway. Chairman Daniel Bircher said, "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."

Located in Jewar in Uttar Pradesh, about 100km from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, the airport is being developed as a major aviation hub for the National Capital Region. Commercial operations are expected around mid-May, with final approvals still awaited from multiple agencies.

Industry observers have criticized the timing of the leadership change, with some questioning why the issue was not addressed earlier. G.S. Bawa, secretary general of the Air Travellers Association, a non-profit, public welfare society, said, "Appointing an Indian CEO could have been done long ago. Why wait six years and raise the issue before commercial operations start?"

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Timeline

• August 2020: Christoph Schnellmann takes over as CEO of Noida International Airport Ltd.
• October 2021: Nitu Samra appointed as chief financial officer of Noida International Airport Ltd.
• March: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the airport.
• Mid-May: Commercial operations expected to start.