Service reduced amid crash aftermath and Middle East tensions
Air India announced on Wednesday it will cut 15% of its international widebody flights starting June 20, citing operational challenges following a fatal crash and rising geopolitical tensions. The service reductions are expected to last through mid-July.
The move comes days after a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operated by Air India crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12 while en route to the United Kingdom, killing 246 people. Only one passenger survived. The aircraft crashed into a medical college building near Ahmedabad airport in Gujarat, also causing injuries on the ground.
Safety inspections and flight disruptions escalate
In the six days following the incident, Air India has canceled 83 international flights. The airline attributed the disruptions to ongoing safety inspections and the broader impact of Middle East instability on flight operations.
“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 company stated.
Air India confirmed that 26 out of 33 Dreamliners have been cleared for service by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The airline is also conducting enhanced safety checks on its Boeing 777 fleet as a precautionary measure.
Passenger options and investigation status
Passengers booked on affected routes will be allowed to reschedule their flights without penalties or request a full refund. Authorities continue to investigate the crash, which involved a plane with more than 41,000 flying hours — an average figure for its model class, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
The incident marks the first fatal crash involving Boeing’s Dreamliner series. Victims included 241 people aboard and five individuals on the ground. Air India has pledged full cooperation with aviation authorities during the ongoing investigation.
