NEW DELHI: Speculation is growing over the future of M Suresh, Member (Air Navigation Services) on the Board of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), with well-placed sources indicating that the Centre is unlikely to extend his tenure beyond its scheduled completion on October 31, 2026.
Suresh is currently serving as Member (Air Navigation Services) and will complete his five-year term on October 31 this year. Interestingly, he is scheduled to attain the age of superannuation only in April 2029, meaning that an extension could potentially have allowed him to continue in the post until his retirement.
However, sources indicate that such an extension does not appear likely at this stage.
The development is significant because Board-level members of major public sector organisations are often considered for continuation up to superannuation, subject to factors including performance, vigilance clearance and service record.
Five-Year Term Ends on October 31
Suresh officially took charge as Member (Air Navigation Services) on September 2, 2021.
His current five-year tenure is therefore scheduled to conclude on October 31, 2026.
If his tenure were extended until his date of superannuation, he could potentially continue as Member (ANS) until April 30, 2029.
However, according to sources, the government is unlikely to grant such an extension this time.
The reported possibility of non-extension comes despite Suresh having a long career with AAI and extensive experience in aviation operations, communication, navigation and surveillance systems, airport administration and aviation safety.
Clean Track Record, Extensive Experience
Sources indicate that Suresh’s service record does not present an obvious impediment to continuation. The government generally considers factors such as performance, vigilance clearance and overall track record when deciding whether a serving Board member should continue beyond the original tenure.
Suresh has spent more than three decades with AAI, rising through technical, operational and administrative assignments before joining the organisation’s Board.
Yet, despite his experience and reportedly clean record, the Centre is understood to be unlikely to extend his current term.
The decision, if finalised, would bring his tenure as Member (ANS) to an end in October, although his long association with Indian aviation has already covered several significant assignments.
Who Is M Suresh?
M Suresh is an aviation technocrat and executive who has spent more than 33 years with the Airports Authority of India.
He is regarded as a specialist in Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) systems and has held several important operational and managerial positions during his career.
His assignments have included airport-level leadership, corporate headquarters responsibilities, regional administration, aviation safety and Board-level management.
He has also handled complex projects involving airport technology, licensing, safety, security and infrastructure development.
Academic Background and Aviation Credentials
Suresh hails from Tenkasi district in Tamil Nadu.
He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Madurai Kamaraj University in 1990.
He subsequently obtained an MBA in Human Resources from the University of Madras, adding management expertise to his technical background.
He also holds the International Airport Professional (IAP) designation, which he earned during 2011-12.
The IAP qualification is associated with the global airport management community and is jointly recognised through Airports Council International (ACI) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
His combination of engineering and management qualifications has supported his career across technical and executive roles within AAI.
More Than 25 Years in Airport-Level and Senior Assignments
Over his long career with AAI, Suresh has handled several high-profile assignments.
He served as Airport Director at Goa, Jammu and Madurai airports, gaining extensive experience in airport operations and administration.
At AAI’s Corporate Headquarters, he worked as General Manager (IT) and General Manager (Airport Licensing).
His IT assignment involved managing technology systems, while the airport licensing role involved statutory and regulatory clearances connected with airport operations.
These assignments gave him exposure to both the technical and regulatory sides of civil aviation administration.
Leadership in North East Region
Suresh also served as Regional Executive Director of AAI’s North East Region (NER).
In that capacity, he was involved in the planning and development of airport infrastructure in the region, including the design and tendering processes associated with modern terminal facilities.
His responsibilities covered baseline infrastructure development and efforts to build modern and environmentally conscious airport facilities in the region.
The assignment was significant given the geographical, environmental and logistical challenges associated with aviation infrastructure development in India’s Northeast.
Aviation Safety and Security Responsibilities
Before moving to the AAI Board, Suresh served as Executive Director (Aviation Safety).
The position placed him in charge of important safety-related responsibilities within AAI, including the development and implementation of aviation safety protocols and strategic security measures at aerodromes.
His experience in aviation safety added another important dimension to his profile before he assumed the Board-level responsibility for Air Navigation Services.
Member (Air Navigation Services)
Suresh took charge as Member (Air Navigation Services) on September 2, 2021.
As Member (ANS), he became responsible for one of the most technically critical areas of India’s civil aviation infrastructure.
Air navigation services encompass systems and operations that help ensure the safe and efficient movement of aircraft through Indian airspace.
His technical background in communication, navigation and surveillance systems was therefore directly relevant to the responsibilities attached to the position.
Additional Charge as AAI Chairman in 2024
Suresh’s responsibilities expanded further in August 2024, when the Ministry of Civil Aviation entrusted him with the additional charge of Chairman of AAI.
He took on the interim responsibility at a time when there was a change in the leadership arrangement at the public sector airport authority.
Although the chairmanship was an additional/interim responsibility alongside his Board position, the assignment reflected the confidence placed in his administrative and technical experience.
He continued to serve as Member (ANS) while handling the additional responsibility.
Digital Transformation and Technology Initiatives
During his executive career, Suresh has been associated with several technology-driven initiatives aimed at modernising aviation infrastructure and AAI’s internal systems.
One of the initiatives associated with his tenure is NOCAS Version-2, an automated online system for processing No Objection Certificates for height clearances around airports and flight paths.
The system is intended to streamline the process of granting height clearances for structures located around airports and other aviation-sensitive areas.
His work has also included SKY REV 360, an e-billing and data-management initiative aimed at improving the collection and tracking of aeronautical data.
These initiatives form part of the broader digitisation of aviation-related regulatory and administrative processes.
Focus on E-Governance and Airport Security
Suresh has also been associated with internal technology and e-governance initiatives within AAI.
Among these was the implementation of Biometric Access Control systems across airports, aimed at strengthening security and modernising access-management mechanisms.
He was also involved in the deployment of e-Office at AAI headquarters, supporting the shift towards digital workflows and paperless administrative processes.
Such initiatives have been part of AAI’s broader effort to modernise its internal systems while improving operational efficiency and security.
What Happens After October 2026?
If the reported decision not to extend Suresh’s tenure is finalised, his current term as Member (ANS) will end on October 31, 2026, nearly two and a half years before his superannuation in April 2029.
His departure would leave open the question of who will take over the key Air Navigation Services portfolio at AAI.
Given the importance of ANS to India’s rapidly expanding aviation sector, the appointment will be closely watched by the civil aviation establishment.
India’s air traffic has been expanding alongside the growth of airports, airlines and passenger movement, increasing the importance of modern air navigation infrastructure, aviation safety systems and efficient airspace management.
A Career Built Around Indian Aviation
Whether or not Suresh receives an extension, his career at AAI represents more than three decades of experience across several critical areas of Indian civil aviation.
From serving as Airport Director at multiple airports and managing IT and licensing functions to heading the North East Region, overseeing aviation safety and eventually joining the AAI Board, he has occupied roles spanning technical operations, administration and policy implementation.
His tenure as Member (ANS), coupled with his brief additional responsibility as AAI Chairman, represents the latest stage of that career.
For now, the key question remains whether the government will continue his tenure beyond October 31. Sources indicate that an extension up to his April 2029 superannuation is unlikely, although the final decision will rest with the competent authority.
About AAI
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is a leading Schedule “A” Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, designated as a Miniratna Category-1 enterprise. As a vital statutory body, this PSU is responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining, and managing civil aviation infrastructure both on Earth and in Indian airspace.
