NEW DELHI — India’s aviation regulator ordered on Monday airlines operating several Boeing models to examine fuel control switches, days after an investigation into last month’s Air India plane crash found they were flipped off, starving both engines of fuel.
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation stated the directive would apply to Boeing 787 Dreamliners and select Boeing 737 variants and that airlines must complete inspections and submit their findings to the regulator by July 21.
A preliminary report into the Air India crash that killed 260 people in the northwestern city of Ahmedabad found that the switches shifted within one second of each other, cutting off fuel supply to both engines. The report, released last week, did not offer any conclusions as to why the plane crashed. It also did not say how the switches could have flipped from run position to the cutoff during the flight.
The movement of the fuel control switches allows and cuts fuel flow to the plane’s engines.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed on June 12 shortly after takeoff. It killed all but one of the 242 people on board as well as 19 people on the ground.
The report, issued by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, noted a 2018 advisory from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, recommending airlines operating Boeing models to inspect the locking feature of fuel cutoff switches.
According to the report, cockpit voice recordings captured a moment of confusion between the pilots, with one asking the other why he cut off the fuel. “The other pilot responded that he did not do so,” the report said.
Some aviation experts in India speculated the crash was caused due to human error based on the preliminary report. At least two commercial pilots’ associations have rejected such claims.
The Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association in a statement on Sunday said it was “deeply disturbed by speculative narratives … particularly the reckless and unfounded insinuation of pilot suicide.”
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson on Monday said the preliminary report into the crash of the London-bound plane found no mechanical or maintenance issues with the aircraft and its engines.
In an internal memo to airline staff seen by The Associated Press, Wilson said the report stated that all mandatory maintenance tasks of the aircraft had been completed.
“There was no issue with the quality of fuel and no abnormality with the take-off roll. The pilots had passed their mandatory pre-flight breathalyser and there were no observations pertaining to their medical status,” he said in the note.
After the crash, Indian authorities ordered deeper checks of Air India’s entire Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet to prevent future incidents. Air India has 33 Dreamliners in its fleet.
The agreement covers essential pilot training programmes such as initial and recurrent training, captain upgrade, and flight simulator services. Tunisair Express already started to work closely with the ATR Training Centre to validate courses and simulator sessions, and the first training sessions already took place.
This regional airline has been serving Tunisia’s domestic and regional markets since 1991. Operating primarily from Tunis-Carthage Airport, Tunisair Express connects destinations within Tunisia, as well as international routes to Malta and Italy. With a fleet of two ATR 72 aircraft, the airline ensures reliable air links that support economic activity, tourism, and essential transportation needs in the country and across the region.
Low-cost carrier Avelo Airlines is discontinuing all of its West Coast service by Dec. 2, 2025. The change is a major strategic turnaround for the carrier, which began operating its first flights from Burbank Airport earlier this year. The company says the move is due in large part to fierce competition, while an unsustainable cost grind has rendered its West Coast network unsustainable.
For Avelo, it’s not just a route shift. It represents a deliberate turn in strategy — from growth to profitable sustainability. The airline will now concentrate its efforts on its six East Coast bases, where it believes it has a better shot of earning sustainable returns.
Burbank From Launchpad to Exit
The first base for Avelo has been the one at Burbank Airport in the Los Angeles metro region, and one that is perhaps fittingly emblematic of its lift off. Launched in April 2021, the airline promised a game-changing disruption of the short-haul air market. It sought to provide significantly discounted fares and focus on underserved routes that the old-line airlines had for years ignored.
Avelo achieved a monthly high of 190 departures by July 2024, serving as many as 14 destinations from Burbank. These were a mix of regional and mid-distance flights marketed at those on a budget looking for alternatives to the major airline hubs.
But as of mid-2025, the power had dwindled to just eight active destinations, as the empire quietly withdrew from an increasing set of problems. The others as of July 2025 were:
Eureka and Santa Rosa, California
Eugene, Medford, Bend, Salem, Oregon
Kalispell, Montana
Pasco, Washington
Avelo also kept a Las Vegas to Santa Rosa route, using planes that were based in Burbank.
“All That Investment, and It Didn’t Pay Off”
The airline said it had spent a lot of time, effort and money on developing its west coast network. But as the company now concedes, the financial results were less than exciting.
The operational environment on the West Coast had become “onerous” and did not produce the financial return necessary to keep the airline profitable, Avelo said in a recent statement. Executives told investors they had overestimated demand in the market and underestimated operating costs including airport fees, salaries and competitive forces.
This, the airline stressed, comes as part of an “ongoing objective” to maximise performance and move the business into “sustainable profitability”.
Closure Timeline for Burbank Operations
Here’s how the airline has outlined the gradual shutdown of its Burbank base, which started with schedule cutbacks and will conclude with the base shutting down completely:
Aug. 12, 2025: The two, Burbank-based fleet will be shrunk to one.
Late August 2025: Four major routes — to Las Vegas, Salem, Santa Rosa and Kalispell — will be eliminated.
December 1 to 2, 2025: All remaining flights will be removed and the base will be closed in its entirety.
East Coast Takes Center Stage
Now with the West Coast draw down, Avelo Airlines will focus in full on the operations that originate from its six East Coast bases. These hubs are economically more compelling, with average returns that are higher, lower competition and higher passenger demand, the airline has claimed.
Avelo’s largest and most active base is currently located in New Haven, Connecticut. The airline also maintains operations in the following strategic secondary markets:
Concord-Padgett Regional Airport, near Charlotte, North Carolina
Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina
Lakeland, Florida
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, North Carolina
This geographic focus will enable Avelo to simplify the operation, minimize fixed costs and optimize aircraft utilization throughout its network. In particular, the airline is interested in underserved East Coast airports with no low-cost competition that it can develop long term.
Effect on travelers and Domestic Markets
Burbank marks the first departure for Avelo here, which is a loss for West Coast travelers who no longer have direct access to Avelo’s ultra-low-cost fares. For others, particularly in smaller or less-connected cities, it could mean fewer travel options — or more expensive tickets — as competition dries up.
Customers who have booked flights beyond the dates of closure will be contacted directly by the airline. They will receive refunds or be given rebooking options as per Avelo’s customer policies.
The Burbank closure also has implications for the lives of Avelo workers, contractors and the ecosystem of businesses left scrambling in Avelo’s absence, though specifics on workforce impact were not provided at press time.
Industry View: The Failure of Avelo’s West Coast Plan
Avelo’s withdrawal from the West Coast is shaping up as a cautionary tale, analysts say. The carrier walked into a market dominated by heavyweights such as Southwest, Delta and United — all of which have built up brand recognition, loyalty programs and extensive operational muscles.
Margins were also squeezed by increasing operational costs such as fuel prices, and airport charges, as well as shortages of staff. The COVID-19 crisis has further changed the way people travel, reducing predictability in short-haul regional flying.
Unlike its East Coast destinations, many of Avelo’s West Coast destinations never made it to the essential load factor required to cover its costs. There were lower barriers to profitability on the East Coast, with its less congested secondary airports, while the Midwest, where the airline had fewer flights, and the West Coast had higher ones, he said.
What’s Next for Avelo Airlines?
Industry observers say that Avelo’s new focus on the East Coast could provide more of a long-term path. Markets such as New Haven are already proving to have sufficient demand from passengers, and other markets, whose airports are under-served, could also be potential strongholds.
With its pared-back footprint, Avelo aims to take advantage of underserved markets, lower fixed expenses and less complex route development. Analysts say it could help transition the new startup to a higher profit per aircraft and a more efficient business model.
The Next Stage: Growth to Sustainability
Avelo’s departure from Burbank is not just a withdrawal — it is a shift in strategy. The airline now seems to be moving away from a flier-are-better mentality and concentrating instead on operational robustness and financial stability.
This change says a lot about the big picture in the ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) space. Citing economic headwinds and changing consumer desires, ULCCs increasingly looking to establish a permanent home in a market rather than blanketing the map.
That translates into West Coast passengers having fewer choices in low-fare travel. But for East Coast travelers, Avelo’s reboot may translate into superior service, more predictable scheduling and a more robust route map designed to contend with the future.
Home»AIRLINE NEWS» India and Kuwait Strengthen Aviation Ties with Major Air Travel Capacity Boost, Opening New Opportunities for Travelers Between the Two Nations
Friday, July 18, 2025
In an unprecedented decision reflecting the depth of relations and cooperation between the two friendly countries in the field of air transport, Kuwait and India will lift the number of flights of the two countries by 50% from 12,000 to 18,000 each side per week. The first in close to 20 years, the expansion has been made in response to a greater need for people to travel between the two countries – including a significant expatriate Indian community in Kuwait. Under the contract savings will be passed on to passengers through competitive travel pricing, the alleviation of price increases and greater accessibility, resulting in a more flexible and efficient passenger experience. With the substantial increase in air capacity, the two countries will have enhanced connectivity and increased flexibility of operations for airlines.
India and Kuwait have formalized a historic agreement to expand their air travel capacity, representing a major advancement in their aviation partnership. This agreement will enhance the bilateral air capacity by fifty percent, increasing the weekly seat allocation from 12,000 to 18,000 seats for each country.The updated arrangement, signed after nearly two decades of unchanged terms, was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi.
The agreement was the result of negotiations between Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary of India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation, and Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of Civil Aviation from the UAE. This follows discussions held during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Kuwait in December. The revised air service agreement is the first capacity expansion since 2006, when the quota was increased from 8,320 to the current 12,000 seats per week.
The expansion of air capacity comes at a crucial time, with increasing demand for travel between India and Kuwait, particularly for the sizable Indian expatriate community living in Kuwait. Many of these individuals come from southern states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat. By increasing the seat allocation, the new agreement aims to reduce fare pressures and provide more affordable and accessible travel options for passengers.
The newly revised air service agreement also promises to improve connectivity by offering additional flights and seat availability.At present, approximately 40 flights operate daily between India and Kuwait, with Kuwait Airways taking the lead, offering 54 weekly flights. Following closely behind is IndiGo, which operates 36 weekly flights. Other airlines operating on this route include Jazeera Airways, Akasa Air, and Air India Express, offering passengers a range of options for their travel needs.
A major benefit of the revised agreement is the enhanced access Indian airlines will gain to airport slots in Kuwait.For years, Indian carriers have faced difficulties securing timely slots at Kuwait International Airport, which has limited their ability to efficiently operate on this busy route. The new agreement alleviates this challenge by opening up more slots for Indian airlines, thus enhancing operational flexibility.
This deal represents a significant shift in the aviation landscape between India and the Gulf region. The Gulf states, including Kuwait, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, are among the largest aviation markets for India. Millions of Indian nationals reside and work in these countries, fueling demand for frequent air travel between the regions. In particular, Indian nationals have long been a vital part of the labor force in Kuwait, with many making regular trips back home to visit family, attend to personal matters, or for medical treatments. The expanded air capacity will provide much-needed support for these travelers, enabling them to travel more conveniently.
Indian carriers have long sought additional seats and airport slots in Gulf countries to better compete with the region’s powerful Middle Eastern airlines, which dominate the airspace with their extensive networks and superior services. The revised agreement with Kuwait aims to create a more level playing field for Indian airlines, enabling them to increase their market share in the region and compete on equal terms with their Middle Eastern counterparts.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation in India has emphasized that this agreement is part of a broader strategy to modernize and revise the country’s bilateral air service agreements. These revisions aim to better align with current market trends and passenger demands, ensuring that Indian airlines can thrive in an increasingly competitive global aviation market. This is consistent with India’s efforts to enhance its international air connectivity and foster greater travel opportunities for both citizens and foreign visitors.
Kuwait’s aviation authorities have also expressed strong support for the deal, seeing it as a strategic move that will not only benefit their nationals traveling to India for business, healthcare, and leisure but also strengthen bilateral relations with India. This move is seen as an important step in fostering closer ties between the two nations, building upon the diplomatic and economic collaboration that has been growing steadily in recent years.
As India and Kuwait embark on this new chapter of their aviation partnership, both countries stand to benefit from enhanced connectivity, greater operational flexibility, and a significant boost in passenger traffic. The deal reflects the evolving nature of global aviation markets and underscores the importance of bilateral cooperation in meeting the needs of modern travelers.
Kuwait and India have raised seat entitlements by 50 percent, which now stands at 18,000 seats for each side per week, to cater to the growing demand and to enhance connectivity which would in turn come to the aid of airlines and our traveling public.
Moving forward, the limitation of the capacity on air travel between India and Kuwait will have widespread implications not just for the airlines but also for many millions that are dependant on these services for personal, professional and medical purposes. With more choice, it means less costs and greater convenience,” This will continue to impact the UAE-Nigeria travel experience, and would set the right tone for a positive precedent in terms of the introduction and implementation of such bilateral agreements with other nations in the Gulf sub-region.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login