By Anjali Mehta, Senior Aviation Correspondent
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Updated: June 22, 2025 | New Delhi
Key Details
- What’s Happening: Air India will reduce 38 weekly international flights and suspend services on three overseas routes from June 21 to July 15, 2025. x.com
- Affected Routes: Suspension applies to Amritsar–London Gatwick, Goa (Mopa)–London Gatwick, and Delhi–Nairobi (until June 30). Flight frequencies on 18 other long-haul routes will be curtailed. indianexpress.com
- Reason: The measures follow enhanced safety inspections after the June 12 Boeing 787 crash in Ahmedabad (241 fatalities) and accommodate longer flight paths due to West Asian airspace restrictions. reuters.com
Expert Insight
“These temporary adjustments are necessary to maintain schedule reliability while ensuring every aircraft undergoes rigorous pre-flight checks,” explains Dr. Priya Nair, Professor of Aeronautical Engineering at IIT Bombay. “It’s a standard industry response when safety and routing changes intersect.”
— Interview, June 21, 2025
Passenger Advisory
- Re-accommodation & Refunds: Air India is proactively contacting affected travellers to offer alternative flights, complimentary rescheduling, or full refunds. hindustantimes.com
- Where to Check Updates: Revised schedules are live on Air India’s website and mobile app.
- Travel Tips:
- Confirm your itinerary 48 hours before departure
- Sign up for SMS/email alerts
- Consider flexible tickets where possible
What Happens Next?
- DGCA Oversight: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has cleared 26 of 33 Boeing 787s after inspections; remaining inspections to wrap soon.
- Service Restoration: Full schedules are expected to resume by July 16, subject to safety clearances and airspace developments.
- Ongoing Monitoring: Air India will continue enhanced checks on its wide-body fleet as a confidence-building measure.
Daily Digest
- June 23, 2025: DGCA to review inspection findings on Boeing 777 fleet.
- June 25, 2025: Air India’s quarterly earnings call—expect commentary on operational impact.
- July 1, 2025: Mid-point update on route suspensions and frequency adjustments.
Fact-Check
- Claim: “Air India is permanently cutting routes.”
- Verdict: False. All reductions are temporary (till July 15) and aimed at safety and operational stability.
- Claim: “Passengers won’t be compensated.”
- Verdict: False. Affected passengers are eligible for re-booking or full refunds.
