New Delhi: Air India has initiated a "phased restoration" of its international operations and aims to resume its full pre-crash flight schedule, prior
to the June 12 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner accident in Ahmedabad, by October 1 this year, Air India's CEO Campbell Wilson said in a statement on Wednesday. This came after the tragedy in which the London-bound AI 171 lost thrust just 32 seconds after take-off and crashed into a hostel building 2 km from the airport, claiming 260 lives. Air India had partially suspended its international operations. "At Air India, the safety of our passengers, crew and aircraft is not just a priority, it is our unwavering commitment and the foundation of every decision we make. Following the tragic accident of AI171 in June, it is understandable that there is heightened scrutiny, coverage, and concern about air travel. I would therefore like to share the measures we have taken to reinforce our operations," CEO Campbell Wilson said in a statement. "These include detailed inspections of our fleet of Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft. Each aircraft underwent inspections under the oversight of India's aviation regulator, the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), and we confirm that no issues were found during these inspections. As with some other international airlines, we also inspected the fuel control switch mechanism of Boeing 737 and 787-8 aircraft, likewise with no findings. We continue to work closely with regulators, maintaining full transparency and ensuring that every action we take aligns with the highest standards of safety and care," he added. "The voluntary “Safety Pause” I had communicated in my last email on 19 June, 2025 continues, entailing a temporary reduction in our schedule to accommodate additional pre-flight checks and mitigate the impact of regional airspace closures. We also took the opportunity of additional ground time to accelerate upgrades to improve aircraft reliability and to strengthen how we manage delays and disruptions." "Our regular safety protocols are rigorous and multi-layered, with every aircraft undergoing thorough checks before take-off by trained engineers and pilots. Maintenance is conducted at certified facilities before and between flights. Our pilots, cabin crew, and engineers train regularly at the Air India Training Academy, ensuring full alignment with the latest safety procedures and global best practices and our Integrated Operations Control Centre tracks every flight in real time, monitoring weather, crew, and aircraft performance." "All our processes are backed by a comprehensive Safety Management System aligned with global aviation standards and fully compliant with DGCA and the UN International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines. Air India, like all major airlines, undergoes annual audits by our regulator, the DGCA, and a bi-annual IATA Operational Safety Audit conducted by an external team of experts. These audits are part of the aviation industry's process of continuous improvement and, as the DGCA stated in a recent communique, Air India’s recent results are “entirely normal” for an airline of our scale and scope." "Additionally, since privatisation, Air India has also proactively commissioned Oliver Wyman / CAVOK to perform a full safety assessment and engaged Boeing to conduct an Operational Efficacy Program. Both aimed at further strengthening and modernising processes and practices. With care and responsibility, we have begun a phased restoration of international operations from August 1, 2025, with full resumption targeted for October 1, 2025. This measured approach ensures we complete every verification thoroughly and resume service with complete confidence. I acknowledge that there have been some operational challenges over the last few weeks that may have impacted your travel experience. Rest assured, we take this seriously and we are committed to strengthening our internal processes to minimise the inconvenience that such circumstances cause to you. Alongside, our broader efforts to modernise operations continue in full swing, including our retrofit programme which will significantly elevate your in-flight experience. So, whenever you choose to fly with Air India, know that your trust is valued and your journey safeguarded by our entire Air India family, through rigorous processes, advanced technology, and a deeply embedded culture of safety and care." Notably, the plane crash, one of the worst air disasters in India in decades, involved a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating as Air India flight AI171. AI171, the London-bound Air India flight, crashed into a hostel complex in Ahmedabad moments after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport there on June 12 afternoon. Of the 242 people onboard, 241 were killed, while the total death toll stood at 260, including casualties on the ground. On June 14, Air India announced that it will provide an interim compensation of Rs 25 lakh, or approximately GBP 21,500, to the families of each of the deceased and survivors of the Ahmedabad plane crash to help address immediate financial needs. The Tata Group has also registered 'The AI-171 Memorial and Welfare Trust', dedicated to the crash victims. It has pledged to support the reconstruction of the BJ Medical College Hostel infrastructure, which was damaged in the accident, as per the release. The probe into the Air India plane crash is being led by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). Under the civil aviation ministry, AAIB is responsible for the classification of safety occurrences, involving aircraft operating in the Indian airspace into accidents and serious incidents.
