New Delhi : Air India on Saturday said that some of its long-haul flights may be delayed in the coming days, as the airline carries out a series of safety checks on its Boeing 787 aircraft. Some of these checks could lead to higher turnaround time and potential delays on certain long-haul routes especially those to airports with operating curfews.
The checks, directed by India’s aviation regulator DGCA, are being performed as the aircraft return to India, before they are cleared for their next operations, it noted. “Air India is in the process of completing the one-time safety checks directed by the Indian aviation regulator, DGCA. These checks are being carried out on the Boeing 787 fleet as they return to India, before being cleared for their next operations,” Air India said.
Air India has completed the required checks on nine of its 787s and is on track to finish the process for the remaining 24 within the timeline set by regulators. For customers affected by this disruption, refunds on cancellation or complimentary reschedules are being offered to those who opt for it, Air India stated. Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu addressed a press conference in Delhi on Saturday and confirmed the DGCA has mandated a comprehensive surveillance of all 34 Boeing 787 aircraft in India’s fleet.
The minister explained that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has added two specialized members — a forensics expert and a medical expert — to aid in the investigation. As a follow-up to the incident, the DGCA has instituted a range of enhanced safety checks effective from June 15. All 787s departing from India must undergo a one-time pre-departure inspection, focusing on components such as the cabin air compression, control and hydraulic systems, and a review of takeoff performance data.
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