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. Following this, we will coordinate with all stakeholders to finalize timelines for the commencement of commercial operations,” it said.
Regarding the timeline for commercial operations, the Noida International Airport said it will talk to stakeholders once the clearances have been obtained.
Schnellmann was appointed by Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG. His previous stint in India was as executive assistant to the chief executive of the Bangalore International Airport Ltd between December 2007 and April 2008.
Schnellmann’s case has drawn attention due to his Swiss nationality, said two people in the know.
A senior civil aviation ministry official said greenfield airports are to be headed by Indians primarily due to security concerns around them.
A second official explained that the airport’s chief executive must double up as the security coordinator and a key accountable personnel. “And that role requires an Indian nationality since the person has to deal with sensitive data and airport infra details.”
In this scenario, an alternative could be to have a foreign chief executive who handles the administrative matters, while security operations are overseen by an Indian, said the second official.
“This is a curious case. In his six years as chief executive, the person already has access to all security installations and other sensitive information of the airport. He will still have the details irrespective of being the chief or not,” said Ramesh Vaidyanathan, managing partner at Mumbai-based BTG Advaya, a disputes and transactional law firm.
Incidentally, as per the security protocols, Schnellmann did not share the dais with the prime minister and other dignitaries at the time of the airport’s inauguration last month.
The second official said the aviation ministry has urged the home ministry to provide the necessary inputs to take Schnellmann’s appointment ahead. Based on these inputs, the BCAS will provide clearances.
There was no response to Mint's queries emailed on 18 April to the civil aviation ministry and the home ministry.
Security experts say the delay is unusual given the length of Schnellmann’s tenure.
“Security clearance for foreign nationals is not uncommon. But since the appointment happened in 2020, it is surprising that the matter would not have come up for consideration in this period,” said Manoj Kumar Lall, a retired Indian Police Service officer who has worked with the country's intelligence services.
For instance, Marcel Hungerbuehler, also a Swiss national, was the chief executive of the Bangalore International Airport Ltd between 2009 and 2011.
Puneet Bakshi, an ex-wing commander of the Indian Air Force, said that the appointment of foreign nationals at airports or in the aviation sector goes through a series of clearances. “This is a time-taking process, at least three to four months, as there are extensive protocols that are followed. But it is unlikely that the matter will remain unresolved in six years, unless we have a change in guard—like officers verifying the details moving out or so on,” he said.
Rahul Chauhan, partner at CMS IndusLaw, a legal firm, said the issue of Schnellmann’s appointment was identified and flagged by the BCAS around 2023–24 and formally acknowledged in December 2025.
The airport was inaugurated in March, indicating that “the aforesaid compliance is no more an issue since the airport is open for business”, Chauhan said. “However, it remains unclear how the chief executive’s nationality requirement was resolved—whether through an exemption or reinterpretation of rules or appointment of an Indian security coordinator, or some other mechanism. This opacity raises questions about regulatory consistency and enforcement of long-standing aviation security norms in PPP (public-private partnership) airport projects involving foreign operators.”