Indian airlines to be recertified ahead of FAA audit
With the aim of regaining US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) category 1 status, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has started a mandatory recertification process for all Indian air carriers.
First up are Air India and Jet Airways which are the two carriers that currently fly to the US, followed by all domestic airlines in India.
The FAA downgraded India to Category 2 earlier this year which means Indian airlines are not permitted to apply to operate additional new flights to the US or start codeshare agreements with US airlines.
Each carrier must submit all manuals and conduct a ‘proving flight’ to comply with DGCA procedures.
In the last year, DGCA has boosted airline standards primarily to regain category 1 status, and now operates a team of 35 full-time flight operation inspectors.
All carriers will be tested again with the exception of newly inaugurated Air Asia India, which was certified in July using the upgraded DGCA standards.
Aviation authorities from the EU and US have planned audits of India’s air safety standards in November and December.
Aside from the main domestic carrier Indigo, virtually all airlines in India are in the red, due to intense competition, and several are looking to spread their wings overseas on more lucrative routes.
"Indian carriers need to resume long haul flights to US cities and codeshares to be financially viable," noted Rajendra Churiwala, of IATA Agents Association of India.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports