Air India is set to begin restoring its international flight schedule from August 1, gradually unwinding the temporary reductions implemented after the recent AI 171 crash.
Understanding the Recent Changes
The airline had curtailed its international wide-body flights by about 15 percent following a “safety pause.” This decision came after the June 12 crash of its Ahmedabad-London Gatwick flight AI 171, which was operated by a Boeing 787 aircraft.
The accident tragically claimed 260 lives, including 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground. A preliminary report identified the primary trigger as both engine fuel control switches moving from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ shortly after takeoff.
While investigators are still focusing on the causes behind this switch transition, the preliminary report found no fault with Air India or the Boeing 787 aircraft itself. However, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mandated enhanced safety inspections for Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet.
Air India also undertook its own voluntary checks and adopted a more cautious approach to flight operations. These measures, combined with airspace closures over Pakistan and parts of West Asia, and night curfews at various overseas airports, led to significant delays and cancellations in the week following the crash, prompting the initial 15 percent cut in wide-body international flights.
Phased Return to Full Service
The airline announced that this partial restoration will see some frequencies reinstated from August 1. Air India confirmed that a full restoration of its international wide-body schedule is planned from October.
This “safety pause” allowed Air India to perform extra precautionary checks on its Boeing 787 aircraft. It also helped accommodate longer flying times necessitated by ongoing airspace closures over Pakistan and the Middle East.
Key Adjustments to International Routes
The restoration will bring several changes to the previous schedule. For instance, the five-times-a-week Ahmedabad-London Gatwick service will be replaced by a thrice-weekly service to London Heathrow starting August 1.
Flight frequencies for Delhi-London Heathrow and Delhi-Zurich are being reinstated to 24 and five weekly flights, respectively. Delhi-Tokyo Haneda and Delhi-Seoul flights, which saw their weekly frequencies reduced by two each, will now return to seven and five weekly flights.
Additionally, Air India is reinstating its thrice-weekly Delhi-Nairobi service until the end of August. However, this route will be temporarily suspended throughout September.
Routes Still Facing Reductions
While many routes are being restored, some will maintain their current reduced frequency levels until the end of September. A few routes will even see further reductions.
For example, the Delhi-Paris route will operate with seven weekly flights instead of 12. Delhi-Milan will have three weekly flights instead of four. Delhi-New York (JFK) and Mumbai-New York (JFK) will both operate six weekly frequencies, down from seven, while Delhi-Newark flights will reduce from five to four a week.
Furthermore, the temporary suspension of three specific routes—Goa (Mopa)-London Gatwick, Bengaluru-Singapore, and Pune-Singapore—will remain in effect until the end of September.
Support for Affected Passengers
Air India acknowledges that some services initially planned for August and September will be removed due to the phased restoration. The airline is actively contacting affected passengers.
Impacted travelers are being offered re-booking on alternative flights or a full refund, based on their preference. Air India has expressed apologies for any inconvenience caused by these schedule adjustments.
Key Takeaways
- Air India will begin restoring international flights from August 1, with full restoration expected by October.
- The reduction in flights was a “safety pause” initiated after the AI 171 crash and subsequent safety checks.
- Specific routes like Ahmedabad-London are shifting airports, and frequencies are being adjusted for various destinations.
- Some routes will continue to face reductions or temporary suspensions through September.
- Air India is offering re-booking or refunds to passengers affected by these schedule changes.
This gradual return aims to balance operational safety with the resumption of full service for international travelers.
