New Delhi: Air India has announced that several international flights will be temporarily suspended or reduced between June 21 and July 15. This decision came in the wake of ongoing enhanced safety checks on its Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft, and complications caused by airspace closures in the Middle East. The airline stated that the move is aimed at ensuring schedule stability and minimizing last-minute disruptions for passengers.
Among the fully suspended routes until July 15 are Delhi to Nairobi, Amritsar to London Gatwick, and Goa (Mopa) to London Gatwick. The Delhi–Nairobi route will remain suspended until June 30, while the others will not operate for the entire duration of the temporary curtailment.
In addition to the suspensions, many other routes will see a reduction in frequency. Flights between Delhi and key North American destinations like Toronto, Vancouver, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington DC will operate fewer times each week. Similarly, flights to European cities including London, Paris, Milan, Vienna, Copenhagen, Birmingham, and Amsterdam will also be scaled down. Services to Australia, Japan, and South Korea are also affected, with flights from Delhi to Melbourne, Sydney, Tokyo, and Seoul now running fewer times per week.
Air India has expressed regret over the inconvenience caused and said it is proactively contacting passengers affected by the curtailments. The airline is offering them options such as rescheduling, alternate flights, or full refunds based on their preferences. A revised schedule is being made available progressively on Air India’s website, mobile app, and customer service channels.
In its official statement, the airline said, “The reductions arise from the decision to voluntarily undertake enhanced pre-flight safety checks, as well as accommodate additional flight durations arising from airspace closures in the Middle East. The objective is to restore schedule stability and minimise last-minute inconvenience to passengers.” Air India also reaffirmed its commitment to safety, saying that passenger, crew, and aircraft safety remains its top priority.