Air India Announces Partial Restoration of International Flight Schedule Following Safety Pause

Gurugram, 15th July 2025: Air India has announced the partial restoration of its international flight schedule, which had been curtailed following its self-imposed “Safety Pause” after the tragic AI171 accident on June 12, 2025. The pause allowed the airline to carry out additional precautionary checks on its Boeing 787 fleet and adjust to longer flight times caused by ongoing airspace closures over Pakistan and parts of the Middle East.

Starting August 1, select flight frequencies will be restored, with full schedule restoration targeted for October 1, 2025.

Key Updates:

1. New Route:
Ahmedabad–London (Heathrow): From August 1 to September 30, Air India will operate 3x weekly flights, replacing the currently operating 5x weekly flights on the Ahmedabad–London (Gatwick) route.
2. Reinstated Flights / Increased Frequencies:
Europe:
Delhi–London (Heathrow): Two weekly flights reinstated; now operating 24x weekly from July 16.
Delhi–Zurich: Increased from 4x weekly to 5x weekly, effective August 1.
Far East:
Delhi–Tokyo (Haneda): Full 7x weekly service restored from August 1.
Delhi–Seoul (Incheon): Full 5x weekly service reinstated from September 1.
3. Routes with Continued Reductions or Frequency Changes Until September 30:
Europe:
Bengaluru–London (Heathrow): Reduced from 7x to 6x weekly; will further reduce to 4x weekly, effective August 1.
Amritsar–Birmingham: Operating 2x weekly until August 31; resumes 3x weekly from September 1.
Delhi–Birmingham: Remains reduced at 2x weekly.
Delhi–Paris: Reduced from 12x to 7x weekly, effective August 1.
Delhi–Milan: Reduced from 4x to 3x weekly, effective July 16.
Delhi–Copenhagen: Operating at 3x weekly.
Delhi–Vienna: Operating at 3x weekly.
Delhi–Amsterdam: Operating 5x weekly; will resume 7x weekly from August 1.
North America:
Delhi–Washington (Dulles): Reduced to 3x weekly.
Delhi–Chicago: Reduced to 3x weekly (to increase to 4x weekly in August).
Delhi–San Francisco: Operating 7x weekly, down from 10.
Delhi–Toronto: Operating 7x weekly, down from 13.
Delhi–Vancouver: Operating 4x weekly, down from 7.
Delhi–New York (JFK): Reduced to 6x weekly, effective July 16.
Mumbai–New York (JFK): Reduced to 6x weekly, effective August 1.
Delhi–New York (Newark Liberty): Reduced to 4x weekly, effective July 16.
Australia:
Delhi–Melbourne and Delhi–Sydney: Both remain at 5x weekly, down from 7.
Africa:
Delhi–Nairobi: Operating 3x weekly until August 31; service suspended for the month of September.
4. Continued Temporary Suspensions Until September 30:
Amritsar–London (Gatwick): 3x weekly (AI169/170)
Goa (Mopa)–London (Gatwick): 3x weekly (AI145/146)
Bengaluru–Singapore: 7x weekly (AI2392/2393)
Pune–Singapore: 5x weekly (AI2111/2110)
Air India has confirmed that some flights originally scheduled between August 1 and September 30 will not operate as the full restoration of services is being phased. The airline is proactively reaching out to affected passengers to offer alternative bookings or full refunds based on their preference.

“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate the understanding of our passengers during this period,” the airline stated.

With this partial restoration, Air India will operate over 525 international flights per week, covering 63 short-, long-, and ultra-long-haul routes.