Air India Temporarily Reduces International Flights After Ahmedabad Crash and Safety Review

Air India has announced a major revision to its international flight schedule, temporarily reducing operations by approximately 15% on wide-body aircraft routes starting June 20 through mid-July 2025. The airline’s decision comes in the wake of the tragic Ahmedabad–London crash (AI171) on June 12, which claimed the lives of 241 passengers. This incident prompted a large-scale safety inspection of Air India’s wide-body aircraft fleet, including its Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 777s.

As part of this safety and operational overhaul, the airline is canceling around 38 international flights weekly and has temporarily suspended three routes:

• Delhi–Nairobi (4x weekly)
• Amritsar–London Gatwick (3x weekly)
• Goa (Mopa)–London Gatwick (3x weekly)

Additionally, flight frequencies on several global routes are being scaled back. In North America, routes like Delhi–Toronto will operate 7 flights per week instead of 13, while Delhi–Chicago drops from 7 to 3. In Europe, reductions include Delhi–London Heathrow (24 to 22 flights), Milan (7 to 4), and Paris (14 to 12). Flights to Australia, Tokyo, and Seoul have also been curtailed. These reductions are expected to last at least until July 15.

Beyond the aircraft inspections, other contributing factors include airspace restrictions in the Middle East due to regional tensions and night curfews at several European and Asian airports, which have disrupted scheduling and aircraft rotations.

So far, 26 out of 33 Boeing 787 aircraft have been cleared after detailed inspections, and evaluations are ongoing for the remaining Dreamliners and Boeing 777s. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has mandated thorough checks to ensure safety before any aircraft is cleared for service.

Air India has assured passengers that it is offering full flexibility, including free rebooking options, rescheduling, and full refunds for affected flights. Notifications regarding canceled or modified flights are being sent through email, mobile alerts, and the Air India app.

Passengers with scheduled international flights between June 20 and July 15 are strongly advised to check their booking status and remain in contact with the airline for the latest updates. This strategic scaling-down aims to prioritize safety while minimizing disruption to travelers during the inspection period