Air India Reduces International Flights After Tragic Incident and Regional Unrest

Air India declared on Wednesday that it plans to reduce its overseas flight schedule by 15% in the upcoming weeks, attributing the decision to last week's aircraft disaster and the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East.

The airline acknowledged that such a reduction is difficult but essential, citing a catastrophic incident and a complicated mix of external factors in its statement shared with Business Insider.

On June 12, an Air India flight with the designation AI171, en route from Ahmedabad to London, met with disaster soon after taking off, resulting in the deaths of 241 among the 242 aboard.

The exact reason behind the Boeing 787 Dreamliner's crash a short while after ascending remains unknown. Since the incident, India’s civil aviation ministry hosted one press briefing where questions were not entertained.

The airline has mentioned that ongoing investigations are focused on determining the root causes behind the mishap.

The airline explained that part of the reduction in its international routes stems from a necessary safety examination of its planes.

Directed by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Air India has enhanced safety checks for its Boeing 787-8/9 fleet. As of Wednesday, 26 out of 33 aircraft had passed inspection while the others remain under review. Additionally, the airline has initiated advanced safety evaluations for its Boeing 777 fleet.

The cutbacks are influenced by factors beyond safety inspections.

A further reason involves geopolitical strains in the Middle East, where airspace over Iran and Israel has been off-limits following an Israeli military action against Iran last Friday. These hostilities have resulted in Israel's leading airline, El Al, pausing all flights indefinitely.

Similarly, several international carriers, such as Emirates and Etihad, have halted their services to Tel Aviv and Tehran.

Air India shared that due to specific interruptions affecting global operations for the six days preceding Wednesday, it canceled 83 flights.

The airline intends to sustain the 15% cuts in its international schedule, primarily affecting wide-body aircraft, till at least mid-July.

This measure helps the airline maintain a reserve of aircraft to accommodate any unexpected changes.

To assist affected travelers, Air India stated that efforts would be made to provide rebookings on alternative routes, while offering options for rescheduling or full refunds.