Boeing will begin the process of returning the troubled 787 Dreamliner aircraft to flight, following the US aviation regulator's approval of its battery system improvement plan.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval on Saturday will see the aircraft manufacturer begin to install the modifications which will return the 787 to service after a series of battery malfunctions earlier this year prompted the Dreamliner's global grounding.
Boeing chairman and president Jim McNerney said the FAA had set a "high bar" for the solution.
"FAA approval clears the way for us and the airlines to begin the process of returning the 787 to flight with continued confidence in the safety and reliability of this game-changing new airplane," he said.
"The promise of the 787 and the benefits it provides to airlines and their passengers remain fully intact as we take this important step forward with our customers and program partners."
The improved battery system includes design changes to both prevent and isolate a fault should it occur, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and chief executive Ray Conner revealed.
He insisted the fix is a "comprehensive and permanent" solution for the aircraft, with multiple layers of protection.
"The ultimate layer of protection is the new enclosure, which will ensure that even if a battery fails, there is no impact to the aircraft and no possibility of fire," Conner said.
He thanked customers for their patience since the aircraft's grounding and underlined Boeing's commitment to getting the 787s back in service "as quickly as possible".
