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Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Air India faces disruptions as crash prompts deeper checks and flight delays
Since the crash, Air India has cancelled operations for 83 wide-body flights, including 66 Dreamliners, according to data shared by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, India's aviation safety regulator. In a statement late Wednesday, Air India said wide-body aircraft service would remain curtailed by 15 percent until mid-July. The airline said it would inform affected passengers and try to accommodate them with alternate flights. The 'curtailments are a painful measure to take, but are necessary,' the airline said. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The airline is performing an even greater number of checks than required, which has had a cascading impact on operations, a company executive familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity as he wasn't authorized to speak to the media. Advertisement The company on Tuesday announced the cancellation of multiple flights, including one from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. Another from Delhi to Paris was cancelled when a mandatory pre-flight check raised an issue, the airline said in a statement. The issue was not identified. In a statement Tuesday, the aviation directorate said surveillance conducted on Air India's Dreamliner fleet so far has found no 'major safety concerns.' Advertisement The aircrafts and their associated maintenance systems were found to be compliant with existing safety standards, the directorate said, adding that of the 33 planes, 24 have completed the inspections, while four were undergoing long-term maintenance. The rest were expected to finish the safety checks soon. The regulator advised the airline to 'strictly adhere to regulations,' and asked it to strengthen internal coordination across engineering, operations, and ground-handling units and ensure adequate availability of spares to mitigate flight delays. Experts from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau are probing the crash with assistance from the United Kingdom, the United States, and officials from Boeing. Some aviation experts see the crash as a temporary setback for Air India as it transforms from a financially troubled state-owned carrier to a privately owned company with ambitions for broad expansion. 'If you ask me whether the accident will derail the ambitious growth plans, no way. There can be no looking back,' said Jitender Bhargava, a former Air India executive director. The company already has placed huge orders for new aircrafts. Its present challenge is to boost the morale of employees and passengers through confidence-building measures, Bhargava said. 'The faster you make people forget this one-off accident, the better it is,' Bhargava said. Indian conglomerate Tata Sons took over Air India in 2022, returning the debt-saddled national carrier to private ownership after decades of government control. The $2.4 billion deal was seen as the government's effort to sell off a loss-making, state-run businesses. It also was in some ways a homecoming for Air India, which was launched by the Tata family in 1932. Advertisement Since the takeover, Air India has ordered hundreds of new planes worth more than $70 billion, redesigned its branding and livery, and absorbed smaller airlines that Tata held stakes in. The company additionally has committed millions of dollars to digital overhauls of aircrafts and refurbishing interiors of more than five dozen legacy planes. Air India has ordered nearly three dozen trainer aircrafts and set up one of South Asia's largest training academies for professionals.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Air India to reduce international widebody aircraft operations by 15%; Dreamliner safety checks under way
NEW DELHI: Air India will reduce its international widebody operations by 15% over the next few weeks to facilitate enhanced safety checks of its Boeing 777 aircraft, the airline announced on Tuesday. In an official statement, Air India described the move as a 'precautionary measure' and clarified that recent flight cancellations and delays are not solely due to technical faults. The airline attributed the disruptions to a combination of operational constraints, regulatory crew duty limits, weather disturbances, and environmental hazards. Air India is facing widespread operational disruptions after last week's tragic crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad that killed at least 270 people, including 241 passengers and crew. The aftermath has triggered intensified safety inspections, leading to flight delays, cancellations, and mounting passenger anxiety. India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), ordered precautionary inspections of the Dreamliner fleet following the June 12 crash of a London-bound flight. The checks, combined with airspace closures in parts of the Middle East due to ongoing regional tensions, have strained Air India's operations both domestically and internationally. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Paras Sector 59 Gurgaon | Paras Floret Low-Rise Flats Birla Book Now Undo 'The airline is conducting an even greater number of checks than required,' said a company executive, who requested anonymity. 'It's impacted operations across the board.' So far, Air India has cancelled 83 wide-body flights, including 66 operated by Dreamliners, DGCA data confirmed. Among these were international flights such as Ahmedabad–London Gatwick and Delhi–Paris, with the latter grounded due to an unspecified issue flagged during pre-flight checks. In a statement Tuesday, DGCA said surveillance of the Dreamliner fleet has not revealed any major safety concerns. Of the 33 Dreamliners, 24 have completed checks, four are in long-term maintenance, and the remaining aircraft are expected to be cleared soon. DGCA also directed the airline to: Strictly adhere to safety regulations Strengthen coordination between engineering, ground handling, and flight ops Ensure timely availability of spare parts to reduce delays Investigations into the crash are underway, led by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) with technical support from the UK, US, and Boeing. Despite the operational setbacks, experts believe this will not derail Air India's transformation under the Tata Group, which acquired the carrier in 2022 for $2.4 billion, returning it to private ownership after nearly 70 years. 'There can be no looking back,' said Jitender Bhargava, former Executive Director at Air India. 'The key now is to rebuild passenger confidence quickly.' Since the takeover, Air India has: Ordered hundreds of new aircraft worth over $70 billion Refurbished dozens of legacy planes Introduced new branding and livery Absorbed Vistara, AirAsia India, and Air India Express Set up one of South Asia's largest aviation training academies Bhargava added, 'The faster you make people forget this one-off accident, the better it is.' Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Arab Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Arab Times
Air India faces turbulence as plane crash prompts deeper checks and disruptions
NEW DELHI, June 18, (AP): Air India is facing fresh turbulence following last week's fatal crash as additional safety inspections on its Dreamliner fleet have led to flight delays, cancellations, and growing passenger anxiety. India's aviation safety regulator ordered deeper checks on Boeing 787 aircraft operated by the airline soon after its London-bound flight crashed during take-off in Ahmedabad city June 12, killing at least 270 people, including 241 passengers and crew. The precautionary inspections, including closure of airspace in some middle eastern countries, have strained Air India operations across domestic and international routes. Since the crash, Air India has cancelled operations of a total of 83 wide-body flights, including 66 Dreamliner, according to data shared by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, India's aviation safety regulator. "There is a cascading impact operationally. We are being extra cautious and doing extra checks beyond the usual,' a company executive familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity as he wasn't authorized to speak to the media. The company on Tuesday announced cancellation of multiple flights, including one from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. Another from Delhi to Paris was cancelled as a mandatory pre-flight check identified an unidentified issue, the airline said in a statement. In a statement Tuesday, the aviation directorate said surveillance conducted on Air India's Dreamliner fleet so far has found no "major safety concerns.' The aircraft and its associated maintenance systems were found to be compliant with existing safety standards, the directorate said, adding that of the 33 aircraft, 24 have completed the inspections, while four were undergoing long-term maintenance. The rest were expected to finish the safety checks soon. The regulator, however, raised concerns about maintenance-related issues reported by the airline and advised it to "strictly adhere to regulations.' It asked Air India to strengthen internal coordination across engineering, operations, and ground handling units and ensure adequate availability of spares to mitigate flight delays. Experts from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau are probing the crash with assistance from the U.K., the U.S., and officials from Boeing. Aviation experts say the crash poses a temporary challenge for Air India, which was in midst of transforming itself from a financially troubled airline to a profitable venture. "If you ask me whether the accident will derail the ambitious growth plans, no way. There can be no looking back,' said Jitender Bhargava, a former Air India executive director. The company already has placed huge orders for new aircraft to expand operations. The present challenge was to boost the morale of employees and passengers through confidence-building measures, Bhargava said. "The faster you make people forget this one-off accident, the better it is,' Bhargava said. Indian conglomerate Tata Sons took over Air India in 2022, returning the debt-saddled national carrier to private ownership after decades of government control. The $2.4 billion deal was seen as the government's effort to sell off a loss-making, state-run businesses. It also was in some ways a homecoming for Air India, which was launched by the Tata family in 1932. Since the takeover, Air India has ordered hundreds of new planes worth over $70 billion, redesigned its branding and livery and absorbed smaller airlines Tata held stakes in. The company additionally has committed millions of dollars to digital overhauls of aircraft and refurbishing interiors of more than five dozen legacy planes. Air India has ordered nearly three dozen trainer aircraft and set up one of South Asia's largest training academy for professionals.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Air India faces turbulence as plane crash prompts deeper checks and disruptions
NEW DELHI (AP) — Air India is facing fresh turbulence following last week's fatal crash as additional safety inspections on its Dreamliner fleet have led to flight delays, cancellations and growing passenger anxiety. India's aviation safety regulator ordered deeper checks on Boeing 787 aircrafts operated by the airline soon after its London-bound flight crashed during take-off in Ahmedabad city June 12, killing at least 270 people, including 241 passengers and crew. The precautionary inspections, including closure of airspace in some middle eastern countries, have strained Air India operations across domestic and international routes. Since the crash, Air India has cancelled operations of a total of 83 wide-body flights, including 66 Dreamliner, according to data shared by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, India's aviation safety regulator. 'There is a cascading impact operationally. We are being extra cautious and doing extra checks beyond the usual,' a company executive familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity as he wasn't authorized to speak to the media. The company on Tuesday announced cancellation of multiple flights, including one from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. Another from Delhi to Paris was cancelled as a mandatory pre-flight check identified an unidentified issue, the airline said in a statement. In a statement Tuesday, the aviation directorate said surveillance conducted on Air India's Dreamliner fleet so far has found no 'major safety concerns.' The aircrafts and its associated maintenance systems were found to be compliant with existing safety standards, the directorate said, adding that of the 33 aircrafts, 24 have completed the inspections, while four were undergoing long-term maintenance. The rest were expected to finish the safety checks soon. The regulator, however, raised concerns about maintenance-related issues reported by the airline and advised it to 'strictly adhere to regulations.' It asked Air India to strengthen internal coordination across engineering, operations and ground handling units and ensure adequate availability of spares to mitigate flight delays. Experts from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau are probing the crash with assistance from the U.K., the U.S. and officials from Boeing. Aviation experts say the crash poses a temporary challenge for Air India, which was in midst of transforming itself from a financially troubled airline to a profitable venture. 'If you ask me whether the accident will derail the ambitious growth plans, no way. There can be no looking back,' said Jitender Bhargava, a former Air India executive director. The company already has placed huge orders for new aircrafts to expand operations. The present challenge was to boost the morale of employees and passengers through confidence building measures, Bhargava said. 'The faster you make people forget this one-off accident, the better it is,' Bhargava said. Indian conglomerate Tata Sons took over Air India in 2022, returning the debt-saddled national carrier to private ownership after decades of government control. The $2.4 billion deal was seen as the government's effort to sell off a loss-making, state-run businesses. It also was in some ways a homecoming for Air India, which was launched by the Tata family in 1932. Since the takeover, Air India has ordered hundreds of new planes worth over $70 billion, redesigned its branding and livery and absorbed smaller airlines Tata held stakes in. The company additionally has committed millions of dollars to digital overhauls of aircrafts and refurbishing interiors of more than five dozen legacy planes. Air India has ordered nearly three dozen trainer aircrafts and set up one of South Asia's largest training academy for professionals.
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Air India faces turbulence as plane crash prompts deeper checks and disruptions
NEW DELHI — Air India is facing fresh turbulence following last week's fatal crash as additional safety inspections on its Dreamliner fleet have led to flight delays, cancellations and growing passenger anxiety. India's aviation safety regulator ordered deeper checks on Boeing 787 aircrafts operated by the airline soon after its London-bound flight crashed during take-off in Ahmedabad city June 12, killing at least 270 people, including 241 passengers and crew. The precautionary inspections, including closure of airspace in some middle eastern countries, have strained Air India operations across domestic and international routes. Since the crash, Air India has cancelled operations of a total of 83 wide-body flights, including 66 Dreamliner, according to data shared by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, India's aviation safety regulator. 'There is a cascading impact operationally. We are being extra cautious and doing extra checks beyond the usual,' a company executive familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity as he wasn't authorized to speak to the media. The company on Tuesday announced cancellation of multiple flights, including one from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. Another from Delhi to Paris was cancelled as a mandatory pre-flight check identified an unidentified issue, the airline said in a statement. In a statement Tuesday, the aviation directorate said surveillance conducted on Air India's Dreamliner fleet so far has found no 'major safety concerns.' The aircrafts and its associated maintenance systems were found to be compliant with existing safety standards, the directorate said, adding that of the 33 aircrafts, 24 have completed the inspections, while four were undergoing long-term maintenance. The rest were expected to finish the safety checks soon. The regulator, however, raised concerns about maintenance-related issues reported by the airline and advised it to 'strictly adhere to regulations.' It asked Air India to strengthen internal coordination across engineering, operations and ground handling units and ensure adequate availability of spares to mitigate flight delays. Experts from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau are probing the crash with assistance from the U.K., the U.S. and officials from Boeing. Aviation experts say the crash poses a temporary challenge for Air India, which was in midst of transforming itself from a financially troubled airline to a profitable venture. 'If you ask me whether the accident will derail the ambitious growth plans, no way. There can be no looking back,' said Jitender Bhargava, a former Air India executive director. The company already has placed huge orders for new aircrafts to expand operations. The present challenge was to boost the morale of employees and passengers through confidence building measures, Bhargava said. 'The faster you make people forget this one-off accident, the better it is,' Bhargava said. Indian conglomerate Tata Sons took over Air India in 2022, returning the debt-saddled national carrier to private ownership after decades of government control. The $2.4 billion deal was seen as the government's effort to sell off a loss-making, state-run businesses. It also was in some ways a homecoming for Air India, which was launched by the Tata family in 1932. Since the takeover, Air India has ordered hundreds of new planes worth over $70 billion, redesigned its branding and livery and absorbed smaller airlines Tata held stakes in. The company additionally has committed millions of dollars to digital overhauls of aircrafts and refurbishing interiors of more than five dozen legacy planes. Air India has ordered nearly three dozen trainer aircrafts and set up one of South Asia's largest training academy for professionals.
