Air India has announced that it will begin partially restoring its international flight schedule, which was reduced following the tragic accident on June 12 involving flight AI171. The restoration process is set to begin on August 1, with a full return to the regular schedule expected by October 1, 2025.
The airline had reduced flights to Europe and North America by 15% until mid-July to increase the number of available aircraft in case of cancellations. Most of the flights that were canceled were operated by Boeing 787 aircraft, which were grounded for enhanced inspections mandated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The disruption was further worsened by the closure of Iranian airspace, which forced longer flight diversions. Night curfews at European airports and pilots exceeding their permitted duty hours also caused delays on return flights.
As part of the restoration, Air India will resume its thrice-weekly service between Ahmedabad and London Heathrow from August 1 to September 30, replacing the currently operating five-times-a-week flights between Ahmedabad and London Gatwick.
The Tata Group-owned airline stated that the "safety pause" allowed it to perform additional precautionary checks on its Boeing 787 aircraft and accommodate longer flying times due to airspace closures over Pakistan and the Middle East. The airline is proactively contacting affected passengers to offer re-booking on alternative flights or a full refund, depending on their preference. Air India has apologized for any inconvenience caused.
According to Air India, it operates more than 525 international flights per week on 63 short, long, and ultra-long-haul routes with the partial restoration.
The airline's decision to restore its international flights comes after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report on the fatal Air India plane crash that killed 260 people in Ahmedabad on June 12.
The partial service resumption will see some flights being restored from August 1, with full restoration planned from October 1, 2025, Air India said. As part of the partial resumption, Air India has reduced flights to some destinations in Europe and North America. These include reductions in the frequency of Delhi-to-Paris flights to seven times a week from 12.
