Indian Carriers Breathe Sigh of Relief as Boeing Jets Cleared of FAA Directive

Akasa Air and Air India Express have confirmed that their Boeing 737 fleets are not affected by the recent airworthiness directive issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The directive, released on August 7, 2026, mandates inspections for potential cracks in the bearing strap located at the forward upper corner of the forward galley door for specific Boeing 737-8, 737-9, and 737-8200 models.

Akasa Air stated that its fleet, which consists entirely of new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, is not impacted by this requirement. According to the airline, the inspection threshold of 30,000 flight cycles will not be reached by its fleet for over 13 years, given the current age of its aircraft and usage patterns.

Air India Express also confirmed that its fleet of approximately 80 Boeing 737s does not require these inspections at this time. Boeing, the manufacturer of these aircraft, has clarified that it has been working with operators on this specific issue since 2021.