Noida International Airport Ltd has appointed Nitu Samra as interim CEO after the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) denied security clearance to Christoph Schnellmann, the previous CEO, due to his foreign nationality. This appointment is crucial as it aligns with regulations that require airport CEOs to be Indian nationals, particularly since the CEO also serves as the airport's designated security coordinator. Samra, who has been the airport's chief financial officer since October 2021, will lead the airport until a formal selection process for a permanent CEO is completed. The airport, located in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, is set to become a significant aviation hub for the National Capital Region, with an initial capacity to handle 12 million passengers annually. Although the airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March, it has yet to commence operations, pending final approvals from various agencies. Critics in the industry have expressed concerns about the timing of this leadership change, suggesting it could have been addressed much earlier to facilitate smoother operational transitions.