After maintenance issues raised over Air India's Boeing 787 planes, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) made clear on Tuesday that recent checks on the fleet did not reveal any major safety problems.
The aircraft and their maintenance systems complied with existing safety procedures, the aviation regulator said.
Air India has a fleet size of 33 Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft. Four of these are currently in lengthy maintenance at different Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) centers.
"As on 1500 hrs on 17 June 2025, 24 aircrafts have completed the mandatory check successfully. 2 more aircrafts are scheduled for completion today and 1 aircraft tomorrow. The remaining 6 aircraft comprise of 2 aircrafts, which are currently AOG at Delhi," the DGCA said.
The two missions stranded in Delhi will be checked after they are certified as serviceable, and then will be re-inducted into operations. The four which are in a state of maintenance at MRO shops will also undergo the checks necessary before they can be cleared for flying, the DGCA further noted.
There was also a high-level review between DGCA officials and top-level executives of Air India and Air India Express. The sitting was to assess the operational fitness of the carriers, which together operate more than 1,000 flights on domestic and international routes every day.
In the course of the review, the regulator recommended that the airlines improve coordination between engineering, operational, and ground handling personnel. It also emphasized the need for holding a sufficient inventory of spare parts to assist in the reduction of delays to passengers and complete compliance with aviation safety standards.
The issue also touched on operational consequences of recent airspace limitations, specifically over Iranian airspace, which have led to wide-ranging delays, diverted flights, and cancellations. The airlines were advised to communicate openly and promptly with passengers as well as crew and to explore alternative routes in order to limit service disruption.
The operators have been reminded of their duty under the concerned Civil Aviation Requirements Section 3 Series M Part IV and V, to give advance notice to the passengers about delay and cancellation. There was focus on proper passenger facilitation and timely passing of information through all means," the DGCA stated.
The regulator also recommended a formalized, real-time defect reporting system. This would facilitate critical departments with timely updates, enable improved operational decisions, and assist in eliminating cascading delays and disruptions.
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