Air India Scales Back International Flights by 15% on Large-Cabin Aircraft

In the wake of the unfortunate Air India-171 crash, Air India has decided to slash its international services on wide-body aircraft by 15 percent for a few weeks. This decision was made following the loss of 241 lives on board the flight that met its tragic end in Ahmedabad.

According to an official announcement by Air India, the service cuts will occur between June 18 and 20 and will continue until at least mid-July. The purpose is to beef up the airline's reserve aircraft inventory to manage any unexpected disruptions.

Air India has granted their passengers the choice to either reschedule their travel free of charge or receive a full refund while the airline attempts to accommodate its international passengers on alternative flights.

Scheduled to begin on June 20, the revised timetable of Air India's international services will be shared shortly, as stated in the official announcement.

In the aftermath of the calamity, Air India extends its sincere condolences to the families of the deceased. In collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Government of Gujarat, Air India is making an effort to aid the family members of the deceased and injured.

Air India and Tata Group volunteers are on the ground in Ahmedabad to work with the family members regarding any assistance at hospitals and helping them travel back to their homes with the mortal remains of the deceased, according to the airline's official statement.

Giving an update on the crash investigation, Air India indicated that the investigating authorities are diligently working to pinpoint the reasons behind the accident. The DGCA had issued instructions for 'Enhanced Safety Inspection' across Air India's Boeing 787-8/9 aircraft fleet. Out of a total 33 aircraft, inspections have been completed on 26, all of which have been cleared for service. Inspections on the remaining aircraft will be finished soon.

As a precautionary measure, Air India will also perform enhanced safety checks on its Boeing 777 fleet moving forward. The airline aims to cooperate with authorities like the AAIB, DGCA, and MoCA to guarantee the safety of passengers, crew, and aircraft, which remains its top priority.

Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, during an interview with Navika Kumar, expressed his sorrow over the London-bound Air India flight crash on June 12. He stated that the airline is doing everything possible to help the victims' families and that the company will stand by them now and in the future. He offered no words to console the grieving families but promised that they would not be left alone in their time of need.

(Exclusive interview on The NewsHour with Navika Kumar and except for the headline, this story has not been edited by our website staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Safety Measures and Operational Adjustments:

Following the crash investigation, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered an "Enhanced Safety Inspection" across Air India’s Boeing 787-8/9 fleet[1]. As of now, 26 out of 33 aircraft have undergone safety inspections, with the remainder to be completed in the upcoming days[1].
In addition to the safety checks on the Boeing 787-8/9, Air India plans to perform an enhanced safety review of their Boeing 777 fleet as well[1].
To shore up safety and operational reliability, Air India has temporarily reduced international services operated by Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft, affecting 16 international routes with flight frequency cuts and suspensions on three overseas routes, effective from June 21 to at least July 15, 2025[2][3][4].

These measures are part of a comprehensive approach undertaken by Air India that focuses on rigorous inspections and operational adjustments to ensure the utmost safety of passengers, crew, and aircraft across their Boeing 777 and 787-8/9 fleet[1][2][3][4].

In response to the Air India-171 crash, Air India is temporarily reducing its international services by 15% on wide-body aircraft, including Boeing 787 and 777, affecting 16 routes, until at least mid-July.
To maintain safety and operational reliability, Air India has decided to perform enhanced safety checks on their Boeing 777 fleet in addition to the ongoing "Enhanced Safety Inspection" across their Boeing 787-8/9 fleet.
Following the unfortunate accident, Air India is collaborating with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Government of Gujarat, and investigating authorities like the AAIB, DGCA, and MoCA to ensure the highest level of safety for passengers, crew, and aircraft.