Air India’s International Flight Operations To Resume Fully By October 1, Says CEO Campbell Wilson

New Delhi: Air India has announced the resumption of its full international operations starting October 1. The Tata-owned airline's decision comes after a temporary halt in international flights following the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12. The airline's CEO, Campbell Wilson, revealed that a phased restoration of international operations has already begun, with select routes resuming services from August 1.

The phased restoration plan ensures that Air India completes thorough verifications and resumes services with complete confidence. Wilson asserted that the airline's commitment is to strengthening internal processes to minimise inconvenience caused by operational challenges. "This measured approach ensures we complete every verification thoroughly and resume service with complete confidence," he said. The airline has been making efforts to diligently enhance its safety protocols, including conducting additional precautionary checks on its Boeing 787 aircraft.

Air India Enhances Safety Protocols

According to the airline official, the ‘Safety Pause’ implemented by Air India after the June 12 crash allowed the airline to perform rigorous checks on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The crash, which resulted in the loss of 261 lives, prompted an investigation and subsequent safety measures. He added that Air India has taken a proactive approach to ensure the highest safety standards, including borescope examinations of engines, fuel-system sensor validations, and cockpit switch integrity tests. Over 4000 man-hours were logged per aircraft to guarantee safety and efficiency.

As per Air India, an increased number of flights on select routes will be operated from August 1 to September 30, including the Delhi-London Heathrow flight from mid-September, the Delhi-Zurich flight by October, the Delhi-Tokyo Narita flight and the Delhi-Seoul Incheon flight. 

However, some routes will remain reduced or suspended, which will include the Bengaluru-London Heathrow flight, the Amritsar-Birmingham flight and the Delhi-Washington, Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver, and New York flights. 

Talking to ANI, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, "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. 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."

"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," the CEO stated.

The Air India official added that with the full resumption of international operations targeted for October 1, Air India is poised to reclaim its position in the global aviation industry.