India’s aviation oversight is reportedly due for review by the U.S. aviation regulator next week, a process tied to the rating governing its airlines’ access to American routes and codeshares.
Business Standard, carrying a Press Trust of India dispatch that cited an unnamed official, reported the review would take place Monday, Nov. 16, through Friday, Nov. 20. NDTV Profit and Hindustan Times also reported those dates. The reports describe a five-day assessment covering aircraft operations, airworthiness and personnel licensing. No public Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) notice confirming the 2026 schedule was located.
The FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program evaluates how national authorities oversee airlines against standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The IASA framework assesses eight oversight areas, from aviation legislation and staff qualifications to licensing, surveillance and resolving safety concerns. The review concerns a country’s regulatory system under the program’s stated scope.
The FAA’s results page, last updated April 23, 2025, lists India in Category 1. India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation said the FAA confirmed the rating on April 12, 2023, after an assessment that included an audit of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) from Oct. 25-29, 2021, consultations on April 25-26, 2022, and further reviews in July and September 2022.
The ministry said the rating gives Indian carriers access to U.S. routes and allows codeshare agreements with U.S. carriers. The ministry’s 2015-16 annual report says India moved to Category 2 in January 2014 and regained Category 1 status after a reassessment and follow-up visit in 2015. The report said the downgrade restricted carriers’ ability to expand or change U.S. services. The FAA says Category 2 status also brings heightened surveillance. The reported review is scheduled to run through Nov. 20, but no date for publication of its findings has been announced.
