BCAS rules lead to leadership restructuring at Noida International Airport project
April 24, 2026: The Noida International Airport has appointed Nitu Samra as its interim Chief Executive Officer after the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) declined to allow Swiss national Christoph Schnellmann to continue in the role. The decision follows regulations requiring that the CEO of a greenfield airport in India must be an Indian national, prompting a leadership change at the project.
Schnellmann, who had been leading the project since 2020, will now serve as executive vice chairman of the airport’s board, continuing to support its development. The airport confirmed that the change was made in compliance with security directives issued by BCAS and the Ministry of Home Affairs, which upheld the nationality requirement for operational security reasons.
Nitu Samra, previously the airport’s Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed on an interim basis and will oversee operations until a formal selection process is completed. The management said the restructuring aims to ensure continuity while maintaining regulatory compliance and supporting the airport’s transition toward operational readiness.