Air India Reduces Wide-Body International Flights By 15% Till Mid-July Amid Safety Inspections
Air India Suspends Delhi Washington Services From September 1
New Delhi, June 19, 2025: Tata Group-owned Air India has announced a 15% reduction in its wide-body international flight operations until mid-July 2025. The decision follows a deadly crash involving one of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft last week, as well as geopolitical tensions, airspace restrictions in West Asia, and night curfews at several European and East Asian airports, the airline said in a statement released Wednesday.
The cutback will be implemented starting June 20, with the primary aim of stabilizing operations, ensuring safety, and minimizing passenger inconvenience amid multiple ongoing disruptions.
Air India’s long-haul flights, which are operated using wide-body jets like the Boeing 787 and Boeing 777, have experienced significant delays and cancellations in recent days. According to the airline, a total of 83 international flights were canceled in the past six days.
“Due to the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, night curfews in parts of Europe and East Asia, and enhanced safety checks following last week’s crash, we are compelled to temporarily reduce our wide-body international operations,” Air India stated.
While these changes will affect long-haul international routes, short-haul international flights are expected to continue as scheduled since they are operated by narrow-body aircraft, which are unaffected by these constraints.
Enhanced Safety Inspections Underway
Following the tragic crash of a Boeing 787 en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, which claimed the lives of 241 out of 242 people on board, India’s aviation regulator DGCA directed Air India to perform thorough safety inspections on all 33 of its Boeing 787 aircraft.
As of Wednesday, inspections on 26 Boeing 787 aircraft have been completed and the planes have been cleared for service. The remaining aircraft are expected to undergo checks in the coming days. In addition, Air India has announced that it will extend enhanced safety checks to its Boeing 777 fleet as a further precautionary measure.
Passenger Support and Alternatives
Acknowledging the inconvenience to passengers, Air India has offered rescheduling without additional charges or full refunds. Affected travelers will be informed in advance and offered alternate travel options.
“These curtailments, though difficult, are essential to restore operational stability. With the support of passengers, regulators, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, we aim to rebuild confidence and ensure the highest levels of safety,” the airline stated.
Earlier this week, the DGCA confirmed that no major safety concerns were found during its recent surveillance of Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet, further reassuring travelers and stakeholders.
