In the wake of a recent tragic accident involving an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the airline has announced a significant reduction in its international operations. Aiming to prioritize safety and operational stability, Air India will cut 15% of its widebody international flights between now and mid-July. This decision comes as the airline faces increased scrutiny and mandatory safety inspections of its fleet.

The catalyst for this move was the crash of Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner en route to London, which occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport. The devastating incident resulted in the loss of 241 lives, including passengers, crew, and people on the ground.

Following the crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mandated enhanced safety inspections across Air India's Boeing 787-8/9 fleet. Out of the 33 aircraft, 26 have already been inspected and cleared for service. The remaining inspections are expected to be completed in the coming days. As a precautionary measure, Air India has also initiated enhanced safety checks on its Boeing 777 fleet.

Air India cited several reasons for the disruptions in its international operations, leading to numerous flight cancellations. These include geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, night curfews in the airspaces of several countries in Europe and East Asia, and a cautious approach being taken by both engineering staff and pilots, in addition to the ongoing safety inspections. Over the past week, the airline has already cancelled 83 flights.

To mitigate passenger inconvenience, Air India is offering affected passengers the option to reschedule their travel at no additional cost or receive a full refund. The airline is also working to accommodate passengers on alternate flights. A revised schedule of international services, effective from June 20, 2025, will be shared shortly.

Air India has stated that the temporary reduction in services is a necessary measure to ensure operational stability, improve efficiency, and minimize inconvenience to passengers. The airline has apologized for the disruption and is committed to supporting passengers affected by the changes.

The DGCA has stated that surveillance conducted on Air India’s Dreamliner fleet thus far has not revealed any major safety concerns. Air India is fully cooperating with investigating authorities, including the AAIB, DGCA, and MoCA, and has reiterated that passenger safety remains its highest priority.