Air India has declared a temporary decrease in the number of flights for its Boeing 787 and 777 models from June 21 to July 15, 2025. This initiative is prompted by stricter safety examinations and restrictions in Middle Eastern airspace, impacting several vital routes to North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Travelers will be provided options for rebooking or complete refunds.
Air India has provided comprehensive details about the temporary cuts to its wide-body flight services, set to commence on June 21, 2025, and continue until at least July 15, 2025. This comes after the prior announcement of a 15% cut in the operation of Boeing 787 and 777 flights.
Reasons Behind the Reductions
The airline indicates that these short-term reductions are due to two primary considerations:
- Increased Pre-Flight Safety Inspections: Air India has decided to carry out additional safety inspections on its aircraft voluntarily.
- Closure of Middle Eastern Airspace: The ongoing restrictions in Middle Eastern airspace are leading to longer flight times, which is also influencing the operational changes.
The airline’s aim is to “reinstate schedule consistency while minimizing last-minute inconvenience to travelers.”
Routes Suspended Until July 15, 2025
During this timeframe, Air India will halt services on the following international routes:
- Delhi–Nairobi (AI961/962) – 4 times a week
- Amritsar–London Gatwick (AI169/170) – 3 times a week
- Goa (Mopa)–London Gatwick (AI145/146) – 3 times a week
Reduction in Weekly Frequencies
Multiple high-demand routes across North America, Europe, Australia, and the Far East will see a decrease in weekly flights until the middle of July. Here’s a comprehensive overview:
North America
- Delhi–Toronto: cut from 13 to 7 times weekly
- Delhi–Vancouver: reduced from 7 to 5 times weekly
- Delhi–San Francisco: down from 10 to 7 times weekly
- Delhi–Chicago: diminished from 7 to 3 times weekly
- Delhi–Washington Dulles: decreased from 5 to 3 times weekly
Europe
- Delhi–London Heathrow: adjusted from 24 to 22 times weekly
- Bengaluru–London Heathrow: modified from 7 to 6 times weekly
- Amritsar/Birmingham–Delhi: from 3 to 2 times weekly
- Delhi–Paris: altered from 14 to 12 times weekly
- Delhi–Milan: cut down from 7 to 4 times weekly
- Delhi–Copenhagen: revised from 5 to 3 times weekly
- Delhi–Vienna: reduced from 4 to 3 times weekly
- Delhi–Amsterdam: scaled back from 7 to 5 times weekly
Australia
- Delhi–Melbourne and Delhi–Sydney: decreased from 7 to 5 times weekly
Far East
- Delhi–Tokyo Haneda: changed from 7 to 6 times weekly
- Delhi–Seoul Incheon: reduced from 5 to 4 times weekly (3 times from June 21 to July 5, and 4 times from July 6 to July 15)
Reasons Behind the Reductions
The airline credits this 15% decline in widebody flight availability to:
- Voluntary, heightened pre-flight safety inspections
- Extended flight durations owing to airspace limitations in the Middle East
These modifications are part of a strategy aimed at reducing last-minute cancellations and delays, ensuring improved reliability for passengers during this transitional phase.
Assistance for Impacted Travelers
Air India has stated that it is actively reaching out to all impacted passengers to provide:
- Alternative travel options
- No-cost rescheduling
- Complete refunds upon request
Passengers are encouraged to keep track of their reservations on the official website (airindia.com), via the Air India mobile application, or through the customer service centre.
Promise of Total Restoration
In its announcement, the airline reiterated its dedication to fully resuming operations as soon as feasible. “We are determined to restore our comprehensive schedule at the soonest opportunity, while consistently prioritizing the safety of our passengers, crew, and aircraft,” the airline emphasized.
Fonte: Travelo Biz
