Air India cuts international flights on widebody aircraft by 15% until mid-July

Air India has cut international services on widebody aircraft by 15% as the Tata group-owned airline looks to ensure the stability of operations, improve efficiency and minimise inconvenience to passengers.

This comes after India’s aviation regulator DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) mandated ‘Enhanced Safety Inspection’ across Air India’s Boeing 787-8/9 aircraft fleet.

Out of the total 33 Boeing 787 aircraft, inspections have now been completed on 26 and these have been cleared for service, while inspection of the remainder will be complete in the coming days.

“The fact that 26 aircraft have been cleared gives reassurance in the safety measures and procedures that we follow,” Air India said in a statement. “As a matter of added precaution, Air India will also undertake enhanced safety checks on its Boeing 777 fleet,” the statement added.

Due to the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, night curfew in the airspaces of many countries in Europe and East Asia, the ongoing enhanced safety inspections, and also the necessary cautious approach being taken by the engineering staff and Air India pilots, there have been certain disruptions in Air India’s international operations over the last 6 days leading to a total of 83 cancellations.

“Given the compounding circumstances that Air India is facing, to ensure stability of our operations, better efficiency and to minimise inconvenience to passengers, Air India has decided to reduce its international services on widebody aircraft by 15% for the next few weeks. The cuts will be implemented between now and June 20 and will continue thereafter until at least mid-July. This effectively adds to our reserve aircraft availability to take care of any unplanned disruptions,” the airline said.

Air India said the revised schedule of its international services effective from June 20, 2025, will be shared shortly.

Air India apologised to the passengers affected due to these curtailments, saying it will inform them in advance and make its “best efforts” to accommodate them on alternate flights. “Passengers will also be offered a choice to reschedule their travel without any cost or to be given full refund, as per their choice,” the statement said.

“The curtailments are a painful measure to take, but are necessary following a devastating event which we are still working through and an unusual combination of external events. It is done to restore operational stability, and to minimise last-minute inconvenience to passengers. With the continued support of our passengers, the regulatory authorities, Ministry of Civil Aviation and India at large, we will come out stronger through this tragic incident and re-establish the confidence of our passengers and all stakeholders in our services, at the earliest,” said Air India.

Air India said it will continue to cooperate with the authorities such as AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau), DGCA, the ministry of civil aviation to ensure the safety of its passengers, crew and aircraft going forward.