Akasa Air, Air India Express 737 Fleets Unaffected by FAA Crack Directive

Akasa Air and Air India Express have clarified that their Boeing 737 fleets will not be impacted by a recent directive from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This directive mandates inspections for potential fuselage cracks on specific aircraft models, but the Indian carriers remain unaffected.

The FAA’s Inspection Mandate

The US FAA issued its directive on August 7, calling for mandatory inspections on certain Boeing 737-8, 737-9, and 737-8200 aircraft. This action follows reports of cracks detected in a bearing strap located at the forward upper corner of the forward galley door cutout.

Despite being significant operators of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in India, both airlines confirmed their operational continuity. Their fleets are characterized by relative newness and specific operational thresholds.

• Akasa Air operates an entirely new Boeing 737 MAX fleet. The mandated 30,000 flight cycle inspection threshold would only be reached more than 13 years after an aircraft enters service.
• Akasa Air’s longest lease period is 12 years, making the FAA directive practically irrelevant for their current operations.
• Air India Express, which operates approximately 80 Boeing 737 aircraft, also confirmed that the directive does not affect its current operations.

Boeing’s Proactive Stance

Boeing itself identified and reported the initial issue, having collaborated with airlines on inspection protocols for several years. The inspection requirements were extended to the 737 MAX fleet due to shared design elements, even though the specific issue has not been observed on MAX models.

This clarification ensures that two key Indian carriers can maintain their scheduled operations without immediate disruption due to the FAA’s inspection requirements. The proactive fleet management and newer aircraft models provide a buffer against such directives for these airlines.