According to Air India, within the coming weeks, the airline will cut back on its widebody foreign flights by 15%. The changes are scheduled to take effect from June 20 and will last until at least the middle of July. The announcement was made six days after the tragic accident of an Air India flight. Air India's Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed seconds after takeoff and fell onto a medical college dorm while it was headed to London from Ahmedabad.
The 15% cut in flights decision was taken in the midst of the airline's continuous heightened safety inspections, night curfews enforced on airspace in a number of European and East Asian nations, and ongoing geopolitical concerns in the Middle East. In addition, operational problems caused by pilots' and engineers' cautious approach have resulted in 83 cancellations in the last six days.
According to Air India, this action will help stabilise operations, boost productivity, and lessen passenger discomfort. In order to handle any unanticipated interruptions, the airline also stated that the reduction will significantly expand the number of available reserve planes.
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Passengers impacted by these changes have received an apology from Air India and an assurance that they will be notified beforehand. The airline will do everything in its power to put passengers on other flights. Additionally, travellers will have the choice to get a complete refund or a complimentary rescheduling of their trip, whichever they prefer. They will soon release the updated international flight schedule, which will take effect on June 20, 2025.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an order following the catastrophic Ahmedabad Air India plane disaster, which claimed the lives of 241 passengers and crew. All of Air India's Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft were required to undergo an "Enhanced Safety Inspection." 26 of the 33 aircraft have undergone inspections and have been approved for operation, according to Air India. The airlines in an official statement said, “The remaining inspections are expected to be finalised in the coming days, providing reassurance about the safety measures and procedures followed by the airline.”
Air India has said that it will perform more thorough safety inspections on its fleet of Boeing 777 aircraft as an extra precaution. In order to guarantee the greatest levels of safety for its passengers, crew, and aircraft, the airline reaffirmed its dedication to working closely with authorities such as the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), DGCA, and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).