Air India has announced a temporary reduction in services operated by its Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft, citing the need to undertake enhanced safety checks and adapt to extended flight times caused by ongoing airspace closures in the Middle East.
The changes, which come into effect from 21 June and will continue until at least 15 July 2025, are part of the airline’s efforts to stabilise its schedule and minimise last-minute disruptions to passengers.
Suspended Routes
Three routes will be entirely suspended during the affected period:
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Delhi–Nairobi (AI961/962): 4x weekly
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Amritsar–London Gatwick (AI169/170): 3x weekly
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Goa (Mopa)–London Gatwick (AI145/146): 3x weekly
(Note: The Nairobi service is currently set to resume on 1 July.)
Reduced Frequencies on Key International Routes
Air India will also scale back frequencies on several high-demand long-haul routes:
North America
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Delhi–Toronto: 13x weekly reduced to 7x weekly
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Delhi–Vancouver: 7x to 5x weekly
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Delhi–San Francisco: 10x to 7x weekly
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Delhi–Chicago: 7x to 3x weekly
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Delhi–Washington D.C.: 5x to 3x weekly
Europe
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Delhi–London Heathrow: 24x to 22x weekly
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Bengaluru–London Heathrow: 7x to 6x weekly
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Amritsar/Delhi–Birmingham: 3x to 2x weekly
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Delhi–Paris: 14x to 12x weekly
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Delhi–Milan: 7x to 4x weekly
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Delhi–Copenhagen: 5x to 3x weekly
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Delhi–Vienna: 4x to 3x weekly
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Delhi–Amsterdam: 7x to 5x weekly
Australia
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Delhi–Melbourne/Sydney: Each reduced from 7x to 5x weekly
Far East
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Delhi–Tokyo Haneda: 7x to 6x weekly
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Delhi–Seoul Incheon: 5x to 4x weekly (operating 3x weekly from 21 June–5 July, increasing to 4x from 6 July–15 July)
Passenger Support and Rescheduling
Air India has apologised for the inconvenience and is proactively reaching out to affected travellers. Passengers will be offered alternative flight options, complimentary rescheduling, or full refunds according to their preference.
The airline emphasised that the temporary curtailments are necessary to maintain operational safety and reliability, stating: “We remain committed to restoring our full schedule as soon as practicable, while at all times prioritising the safety of our passengers, crew and aircraft.”
