AAI Member Operations Recruitment 2026

AAI Member (Operations) Recruitment 2026: Overview

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) is selecting a new Member (Operations) for the Board of Airports Authority of India (AAI). AAI is a statutory body set up in 1995 under the Airports Authority of India Act, 1994, and is a fully government-owned Schedule 'A' Miniratna (Category-1) CPSE that develops and runs airports, air traffic services, passenger terminals and cargo facilities across India.

The Member (Operations) sits on the AAI Board of Directors and reports directly to the Chairperson, AAI. The role covers airport management, facilitation and IT, upkeep of airport infrastructure, safety and rescue services, security and coordination — a top leadership job meant for senior executives already working at or just below Board level.

Service Conditions and Caveats

• Regular employment only: You must hold a regular post — not contractual or ad-hoc — on the date you apply and on the date of the interview.
• Where you can come from: Central PSEs (including functional Directors), Central Government Group 'A' services including the Armed Forces and All India Services, public sector banks, financial institutions and autonomous bodies, State PSEs, and private companies, joint ventures and cooperative federations with an average audited turnover of Rs. 2,000 crore or more.
• Level you must hold: Central Government officers need a substantive Joint Secretary-level post; Armed Forces officers need the rank of Major General or equivalent; bank and FI officers need a Board-level post or one level below for a year; State PSE and private sector applicants must be at Board level or one level below. A scale drawn only through NFU or NBR, without a substantive post, does not count.
• Time in the eligible scale: CPSE applicants need one year in the eligible scale if they are internal AAI candidates and two years otherwise, counted on the date of vacancy.
• Private sector ranking: Candidates from listed companies get preference, and private, JV and federation applicants are arranged in order of their organisation's turnover.
• Immediate absorption: Central Government, Armed Forces, AIS, bank, FI and autonomous-body officers are considered only on an immediate absorption basis, not on deputation.
• Tenure: The appointment lasts five years from joining, or up to superannuation, or until further orders — whichever comes first.
• Undertaking to join: Your application must include a signed undertaking to join if selected. If you back out after the interview or after the offer, you are barred for two years from Board-level posts in any CPSE (CPSE candidates from CPSEs other than their own), and no relaxation is given.

Application Submission Notes

Download the prescribed application format from the Ministry of Civil Aviation website and fill it in completely, including a write-up of up to 4,000 words supporting your candidature. Your application must go through the proper channel:

• Group 'A' officers, Armed Forces and AIS: through your Cadre Controlling Authority.
• Bank, FI and autonomous-body officers: through your Administrative Ministry or Department.
• CMDs, MDs and Functional Directors of CPSEs: through the Administrative Ministry; below-Board CPSE officers through their own CPSE.
• State PSE Board members: through the Administrative Secretary and Cadre Controlling Authority of the State; below-Board SPSE officers through their SPSE.
• Private sector: directly to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Address it to Under Secretary, Airport Authority of India Section, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Room No. 50, 'B' Block, Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, Safdarjung Airport, New Delhi-110003. Your own submission is due by 5:00 PM on the closing date; forwarding offices get extra time to send it on to the Ministry, but late or incomplete applications are rejected.

• Serve on the AAI Board of Directors and report to the Chairperson, AAI
• Manage airport operations and airport facilitation, including IT services
• Oversee the upkeep and maintenance of airport infrastructure
• Lead safety and rescue services at airports
• Handle airport security, logistic support, liaison and coordination activities
• Promote indigenisation under the Government's Atma Nirbhar scheme