India’s Noida Airport Gets a New CEO; Taj Partners With Etihad on Loyalty

Noida International Airport (NIA) has announced Nitu Samra as its CEO on an interim basis, in line with rules requiring that only Indian nationals can take on such roles.

The change follows directions from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), which requires the CEO of an Indian airport to be an Indian national. Swiss national Christoph Schnellmann, who had led Noida International Airport since August 2020, will transition to the airport’s Board of Directors as executive vice chairman.

The airport said in a release that Samra, who has been serving as CFO of Noida International Airport since October 2021, played a central role in the airport’s development, overseeing financial strategy, governance, and long-term planning during a critical phase of the greenfield project. A chartered accountant with over 25 years of experience, she has worked across financial and asset management, leasing, and other service sectors with organizations such as LeasePlan Indi