Air India expects to resume commercial operation of its six Boeing 787-8s in June. Late on May 7, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation lifted a grounding order on the type after a joint team of Air India and Boeing officials briefed the regulator on the successful installation of a new battery system on one of the aircraft, a Civil Aviation Ministry spokesman says. Technical experts from Boeing also are making the necessary modifications to the remaining 787 aircraft, the spokesman adds.

India plans to invest over $12 billion by 2017 to improve airport infrastructure and support the country’s rapidly expanding air transport network. “The Indian government has envisaged investment of $12.1 billion in the airports sector during the 12th Plan period [2012-2017], of which $9.3 billion is expected to come from the private sector for construction of new airports, expansion and modernization,” says Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh.

Honeywell Aerospace expects to grow rapidly in India using a strategy of “manufacturing in India, for India,” to support the country's drive for organic manufacturing. Pritam Bhavnani, president of Honeywell Aerospace India, discussed the company's plans with Aviation Week's Jay Menon. AW&ST: What new initiatives will Honeywell pursue in India?