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Khaleej Times
06-08-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Air India to fully restore international operations by October 1, CEO says
Air India MD and CEO Campbell Wilson on Wednesday wrote letters to members of its frequent flyer programme 'Maharaja Club', apprising them of the safety measures the airline has taken after the unfortunate AI171 crash in Ahmedabad. The CEO and MD stated that, at Air India, the safety of the passengers, crew, and aircraft is not just a priority; it is their "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 and concern about air travel. "I would therefore like to share the measures we have taken to reinforce our operations," he wrote in emails to the Maharaja Club members, as he continued to highlight every measure taken to regain flyers' confidence. Air India has ensured detailed inspections of their fleet of Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft. Each aircraft underwent inspections under the oversight of India's aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and "we confirm that no issues were found during these inspections," Campbell Wilson wrote. "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 continued. The voluntary "Safety Pause" also continues, entailing a temporary reduction in Air India's 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," the CEO and MD wrote. He further reassured that Air India's 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," he added. All of Air India's 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, he reaffirmed. The Air India top official also apprised the frequent flyers that their phased restoration of international operations from August 1, 2025, with full resumption targeted for October 1, 2025. "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," Campbell Wilson wrote. On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating between Ahmedabad and Gatwick Airport (London), crashed within one minute of take-off. The crash occurred in the densely populated Meghani Nagar locality of Ahmedabad. As many as 260 persons were killed, including 241 on board and 19 on the ground.
Indian Express
06-08-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Air India CEO assures flyers on flight safety, says airline's actions aligned with ‘highest standards of safety and care'
Amid heightened concerns about flight safety among flyers in the wake of the tragic crash of Air India flight AI 171 on June 12, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson on Wednesday assured flyers that the Tata group airline is focused on ensuring safe flight operations, and listed various measures being taken by the carrier to 'reinforce' its operations following the accident, in which 260 persons perished. Wilson told flyers that Air India is ensuring that all its actions are aligned with the 'highest standards of safety and care'. 'Following the tragic accident of AI 171 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,' Wilson wrote to members of Air India's loyalty programme Maharaja Club. '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,' Wilson said. Wilson's comments come close on the heels of a few highly publicised aircraft snags over the past few weeks, which have drawn significant public attention in the wake of the Ahmedabad air crash. Over the past few weeks, Air India has been subject to a few regulatory actions by aviation safety regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Wilson told Air India frequent flyers that the 'safety pause', which the airline had adopted after the crash, continues to be in place. This safety pause involves additional voluntary technical checks on aircraft and adopting a cautious approach in flight operations, and along with a few other factors, led to a temporary reduction in the carrier's wide-body international schedule. The airline recently announced a phased restoration of international operations from August 1 and full resumption targeted for October 1, which was reiterated by Wilson in his communication to Maharaja Club members. '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,' Wilson said. The Air India CEO said that the carrier's regular safety protocols are 'rigorous and multi-layered', with every aircraft undergoing 'thorough' pre-departure checks 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,' Wilson told flyers. Listing some of the other inspections and checks conducted by the airline, Wilson said that Air India's entire fleet of Boeing 787 aircraft—the type involved in the June 12 crash in Ahmedabad—was inspected under the oversight of the DGCA, and did not reveal any issue. As with some other international airlines, Air India and its arm Air India Express also inspected the fuel control switch mechanism of Boeing 737 and 787-8 aircraft, which also did not reveal any adverse finding. The preliminary investigation report into the tragic accident said that the Air India Boeing 787 aircraft crashed after both its engines were starved of fuel as the two fuel control switches transitioned from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' position within a second of each other moments after lift-off. Following the initial probe report, the airline started voluntary checks of the fuel control switches on its Boeing 787 fleet, which was followed by a DGCA directive to all operators to do so on most of the Boeing aircraft registered in India. '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. 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 Organization (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,' Wilson said. Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More
Mint
06-08-2025
- Business
- Mint
Safety is Air Indias 'unwavering commitment': CEO Wilson apprises Maharaja Club members about measures taken after AI171 crash
New Delhi [India], August 6 (ANI): Air India MD and CEO Campbell Wilson on Wednesday wrote letters to members of its frequent flyer programme 'Maharaja Club', apprising them of the safety measures the airline has taken after the unfortunate AI171 crash in Ahmedabad. The CEO and MD stated that, at Air India, the safety of the passengers, crew, and aircraft is not just a priority; it is their "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 and concern about air travel. "I would therefore like to share the measures we have taken to reinforce our operations," he wrote in emails to the Maharaja Club members, as he continued to highlight every measure taken to regain flyers' confidence. Air India has ensured detailed inspections of their fleet of Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft. Each aircraft underwent inspections under the oversight of India's aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and "we confirm that no issues were found during these inspections," Campbell Wilson wrote. "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 continued. The voluntary "Safety Pause" also continues, entailing a temporary reduction in Air India's 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," the CEO and MD wrote. He further reassured that Air India's 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," he added. All of Air India's 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, he reaffirmed. The Air India top official also apprised the frequent flyers that their phased restoration of international operations from August 1, 2025, with full resumption targeted for October 1, 2025. "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," Campbell Wilson wrote.
Mint
06-08-2025
- Business
- Mint
Air India to fully resume International operations from 1 October? Here's what CEO Campbell Wilson says
Air India is set to fully resume its International operations by 1 October 2025, according to a recent statement from the company's CEO and MD, Campbell Wilson. The announcement comes after the Tata-owned airline initiated a 'safety pause' in the wake of the AI171 crash in June, which killed all but one out of the 242 passengers on board, causing a temporary reduction in flight schedule. In an email addressed to Maharaja Club members, Wilson detailed the measures the airline has taken to reinforce its safety protocols. He confirmed that a full resumption of the operations is targeted for 1 October of this year. 'We have begun a phased restoration of international operations from August 1, 2025, with full resumption targeted for October 1, 2025,' he said in a statement, adding that 'this measured approach ensures we complete every verification thoroughly and resume service with complete confidence.' Acknowledging some operational challenges over the last few weeks, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said the airline is committed to strengthening its internal processes to minimise the inconvenience that such circumstances cause to passengers. On 18 June, Air India said that it would reduce its international services on widebody aircraft by 15 per cent for a few weeks as part of a broader effort to stabilise operations and prioritise safety after the fatal Ahmedabad crash on 12 June 2025, Mint reported earlier. The crash happened after a Boeing 787 Dreamliner of Air India that was headed for London from Ahmedabad, crashed within seconds of lift-off and fell on a medical college hostel. 'This decision has been taken to ensure stability of our operations, improve efficiency, and minimise inconvenience to passengers,' the airline said in a statement on 18 June 2025. Passengers affected by the reduced flight schedule were offered alternative travel options, including rebooking at no additional cost or a full refund.
New Indian Express
06-08-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Air India CEO says phased restoration of international operations has begun, full resumption by October 1
NEW DELHI: Air India CEO & MD Campbell Wilson has informed its passengers that a phased restoration of the airline's international operations has commenced from August 1. Full resumption is expected to be completed by October 1. He also conceded that operational challenges have impacted travel experience on Air India's flights in the past few weeks. Air India had declared a voluntary 'safety pause' on its operations on June 19 in the aftermath of the Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad, which led to multiple safety checks being undertaken. In a mail sent to all Maharaja Club members (Air India's Loyalty Programme) recently, Wilson said, '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.' Detailed inspections of our fleet of Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft have been carried out overseen by the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). '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,' he said.
