Air India suspends routes and slashes global flights, citing safety checks after fatal crash.
Air India has announced drastic cuts to its international operations following the deadly Ahmedabad plane crash that rattled public confidence. The Tata Group‑owned carrier confirmed on Thursday that it will cancel 38 international flights per week and suspend services on three major overseas routes between 21 June and 15 July 2025.
The three routes to be suspended entirely are Delhi‑Nairobi, Amritsar‑London Gatwick, and Goa (Mopa)‑London Gatwick. Together, these services operate ten flights weekly. This sweeping move, the airline said, aims to stabilise schedules and reduce last‑minute chaos for passengers as it carries out enhanced safety checks.
“The reductions will help us restore reliability while we undertake thorough safety measures,” Air India said in its statement. The carrier is grappling with mounting disruptions since the 12 June crash in Ahmedabad, which involved a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Although the aircraft had passed its last major check in June 2023, the incident has triggered a wave of precautionary actions.
Campbell Wilson, Air India’s CEO and managing director, explained that the airline would conduct additional pre‑flight safety inspections across its wide‑body fleet. “We are voluntarily taking extra precautions on our Boeing 787s and 777s to rebuild passenger confidence,” Wilson told flyers in a message. “However, these measures require time and will inevitably impact schedules.”
As part of this safety drive, Air India is temporarily cutting its long‑haul international flights by about 15%. This reduction affects 18 key international routes spanning North America, Europe, Australia, and the Far East.
In North America, flights connecting Delhi with Toronto, Vancouver, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington will see reduced frequencies. Across Europe, routes such as Delhi‑London Heathrow, Bengaluru‑London Heathrow, Amritsar‑Birmingham, Delhi‑Birmingham, Delhi‑Paris, Delhi‑Milan, Delhi‑Copenhagen, Delhi‑Vienna, and Delhi‑Amsterdam will also experience cuts.
The impact stretches further, with fewer flights on the Delhi‑Melbourne, Delhi‑Sydney, Delhi‑Tokyo Haneda, and Delhi‑Seoul Incheon routes. The airline stressed that these adjustments are temporary but necessary as it balances safety with operational commitments.
Airspace closures over parts of Iran and the Middle East have added to the disruption, forcing longer flight paths and complicating scheduling. Night‑time restrictions at some foreign airports and technical challenges have also contributed to a spike in cancellations.
In his message, Wilson offered an apology to those affected by the changes. “We deeply regret the inconvenience caused by these cancellations. But safety must come first, and we are committed to taking every necessary step to ensure that,” he said.
The fallout from the crash continues to haunt India’s flagship airline. Tata Group chairman N. Chandrasekaran has publicly apologised for the tragedy, as scrutiny mounts over the airline’s safety protocols and maintenance regime.
For now, Air India says it will continue monitoring operations and will adjust its schedule as soon as it is safe and feasible to do so. The suspended routes and reduced services are set to last until at least mid‑July, leaving thousands of international travellers scrambling to adjust their plans.
As the airline works to restore faith, passengers and industry watchers alike will be waiting to see how swiftly and effectively Air India can recover from one of the most challenging crises in its recent history.
