The curious case of pending nod to a six-year CEO that may delay Noida airport
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.New Delhi: Three weeks after its official inauguration, the Noida International Airport faces fresh uncertainty over the start of commercial flights, as a key security clearance for its chief executive is still pending. The nod from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS)—essential before operations can begin—has yet to come through, raising the possibility of a delay to the airport’s planned mid-May launch.The Noida International Airport at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh, 100 km off Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International airport, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 28 March 2026.
The India office of Zurich Airport International AG is the airport's developer and operator.Christoph Schnellmann, a Swiss national who has been at the helm since 2020, is still to get the mandatory approval from BCAS, an arm of the civil aviation ministry. His foreign citizenship is understood to have been one of the reasons behind the approval delay.The airport has already missed multiple deadlines on account of construction delays.
The first phase was built at a cost of about ₹11,200 crore and is designed to handle 12 million passengers annually.Replying to Mint's emailed queries, the Noida International Airport did not specify the pending approval for the chief executive, but said it was working on getting the security clearances. “The airport’s Aerodrome Security Programme is currently under review with the BCAS, and we are working closely with the authorities to secure the necessary approval.
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