Air India is set to significantly reduce its international operations, impacting numerous passengers and travel plans. The airline announced that it will be curtailing flights on 16 international routes and completely suspending services on 3 overseas destinations until July 15, 2025. This decision comes in the wake of recent operational disruptions and safety inspections, compounded by geopolitical tensions and airspace restrictions.

The route reductions, amounting to a 15% decrease in international services on widebody aircraft, are slated to begin between now and June 20, 2025, and will remain in effect until at least mid-July. This move is intended to stabilize operations, improve efficiency, and minimize inconvenience to passengers, according to Air India. The airline also noted that the cuts will effectively increase the availability of reserve aircraft to manage any unforeseen disruptions. The routes that will be suspended until July 15, 2025 include Delhi-Nairobi, Amritsar–London (Gatwick) and Goa (Mopa)–London (Gatwick).

Several factors have contributed to this decision. Enhanced surveillance of Boeing 787 aircraft, ordered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has placed additional strain on operations. Geopolitical tensions in West Asia and night curfews in the airspaces of many countries in Europe and East Asia have further complicated flight scheduling. Additionally, a cautious approach by engineering staff and pilots has led to operational disruptions, resulting in a number of cancellations over the past week.

The impact of these service reductions will be felt across a wide range of international destinations. Widebody aircraft are commonly used for flights to the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia, as well as some shorter international routes. The temporary route curtailment will affect passengers traveling to and from these regions, potentially causing significant changes to their travel itineraries.

Air India has apologized to passengers affected by these changes and has assured that they will be informed in advance. The airline is offering several options to accommodate affected travelers, including re-accommodation on alternative flights, free rescheduling of travel, or full refunds, depending on the passenger's preference. The revised international flight schedule, effective from June 20, 2025, will be announced shortly, providing further clarity on the specific flights impacted.