Air India to Resume Full International Operations by October 1 After Post-Crash ‘Safety Pause’

Air India has announced that it will fully resume its international flight operations by October 1, following a voluntary “Safety Pause” implemented in the wake of the tragic Boeing 787 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12. The Tata-owned airline has been gradually restoring its overseas services since the beginning of August and is now targeting a complete return to its international schedule.

In a statement addressing the recent operational challenges, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson confirmed the timeline and reassured passengers about the airline’s commitment to safety. “We have begun a phased restoration of international operations from August 1, 2025, with full resumption targeted for October 1, 2025,” Wilson said.

“This measured approach ensures we complete every verification thoroughly and resume service with complete confidence.” The airline had halted its international flights to conduct additional precautionary checks on its Boeing 787 fleet and to manage longer flight times due to airspace closures over Pakistan and the Middle East.

Following the June 12 disaster, which killed all but one of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground, Air India initiated detailed inspections of its entire fleet of Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft. Wilson stated that these checks were conducted under the oversight of India’s aviation regulator, the DGCA, and confirmed that “no issues were found.”

He added that, like other international carriers, Air India also inspected the fuel control switch mechanism on its Boeing 737 and 787-8 aircraft, again with no adverse findings. The move comes after a difficult period for the airline, which has seen several flight cancellations and a July audit by the DGCA that reportedly found 51 safety lapses, including issues with pilot training and rostering systems.