NEW DELHI, INDIA – July 18, 2025 – Air India has announced the progressive restoration of its international flight schedule, following the successful completion of thorough inspections on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. The airline had initiated a “Safety Pause” in the wake of the tragic AI171 crash in June, leading to temporary reductions in its international operations.
The decision to restore flights comes after Air India’s engineering team concluded precautionary inspections of the fuel control switch (FCS) locking mechanisms on all its Boeing 787-8 aircraft. These inspections, conducted over the past weekend and completed by Wednesday, July 16, found no issues with the critical components. This compliance follows a directive issued by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on July 14, which mandated all Indian carriers operating Boeing 787 and certain 737 models to examine their fuel switch locking systems by July 21.
Prioritizing Safety and Stability:
“Over the weekend, our Engineering team initiated precautionary inspections on the locking mechanism of Fuel Control Switch (FCS) on all our Boeing 787 aircraft. The inspections have been completed and no issues were found,” an airline official stated in an internal communication to pilots. The airline also confirmed that all its Boeing 787-8 aircraft have undergone Throttle Control Module (TCM) replacements as per Boeing’s maintenance schedule, with the FCS being an integral part of this module.
This rigorous inspection process was a direct response to the preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) regarding the AI171 crash, which indicated that the fuel control switches had moved to the “cutoff” position shortly after takeoff. While the investigation into the exact cause of the crash is ongoing, Air India’s swift action underscores its commitment to passenger safety and operational integrity.
Phased Resumption and Future Outlook:
Air India’s international schedule will see a partial resumption from August 1, 2025, with a full restoration of its global network targeted for October 1, 2025. This phased approach allows the airline to gradually reintroduce capacity while maintaining heightened vigilance and operational stability.
Key routes will see frequencies reinstated or increased, including:
- Delhi-London (Heathrow): Full 24x weekly service restored from July 16.
- Delhi-Zurich: Increased from 4x to 5x weekly starting August 1.
- Delhi-Tokyo (Haneda) & Delhi-Seoul (Incheon): Full restoration of services from August 1 and September 1, respectively.
- A new Ahmedabad-London Heathrow service will operate 3x weekly from August 1, replacing the previous Ahmedabad-London Gatwick route.
Some routes will continue to operate with reduced frequencies until September 30 to accommodate operational adjustments and fleet availability, including flights to Bengaluru-London, Delhi-Paris, Delhi-Milan, and several North American destinations. Certain routes, such as Amritsar-London Gatwick and Goa (Mopa)-London Gatwick, will remain temporarily suspended until the end of September.
Air India is actively contacting affected passengers to offer rebooking on alternative flights or full refunds, apologizing for any inconvenience caused by the necessary safety measures. With over 525 international flights per week on 63 routes set to operate by August, Air India is steadily regaining its operational rhythm, reaffirming its dedication to providing safe and reliable air travel for its passengers.
