Indias Airlines Report 183 Technical Defects This Year Raising Safety Concerns
Air India announced a phased restoration of its international flight schedule from August 1, following a “Safety Pause” initiated after a June 12 incident involving Flight AI171. This temporary halt allowed the airline to conduct additional precautionary checks on its Boeing 787 fleet. It also facilitated the adaptation of schedules to incorporate extended flying times due to ongoing airspace closures over Pakistan and some parts of the Middle East. Air India has confirmed that a full return to its pre-pause international schedules is targeted for October 1, 2025, signaling a gradual return to full operational capacity.
As part of these interim changes, Air India will introduce a new thrice-weekly service between Ahmedabad and London Heathrow, replacing the existing five-times-a-week link to London Gatwick, marking a strategic shift in its UK operations. Key reinstatements include the full restoration of the Delhi–London Heathrow schedule to 24 weekly flights from July 16, along with the resumption of previously curtailed frequencies on Delhi-Zurich, Delhi-Tokyo Haneda, and Delhi-Seoul Incheon routes. Notably, the Delhi-Chicago sector will see a slight improvement in August, increasing to four weekly flights from the earlier three.
However, several routes will continue to operate at reduced frequencies through September, affecting major North American and European sectors such as Delhi-Toronto, Delhi-Paris, and Bengaluru-London. Additionally, a handful of routes remain entirely suspended through September, including Amritsar–London Gatwick, Goa (Mopa)–London Gatwick, and crucial Singapore connections from Bengaluru and Pune. Despite these temporary adjustments, Air India confirms it will operate over 525 international flights per week across 63 global routes. Passengers impacted by these schedule changes are being proactively contacted for alternative travel arrangements or full refunds.
Air India’s strategic adjustments underscore its commitment to operational stability and passenger safety amidst challenging circumstances. This phased restoration aims to balance network efficiency with service reliability, reinforcing customer confidence. The airline’s efforts to adapt to geopolitical and safety imperatives while maintaining extensive global connectivity are crucial for its long-term growth and market position.
