New Delhi: In the wake of the tragic Ahmedabad accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Air India has announced a temporary reduction of 15% in its international wide-body flight schedule.
The incident, involving Flight AI171 on June 12, resulted in the loss of 241 lives—the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 worldwide.
Aircraft was en route to London when it crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, also causing casualties on the ground. Only one passenger survived the disaster.
Following the tragedy, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mandated thorough safety inspections for all Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft in Air India’s fleet. Of the 33 Dreamliners in service, 26 have cleared inspections and resumed operations, while the remaining are undergoing evaluation. Additional inspections are also being conducted on the airline’s Boeing 777 fleet.
Air India explained that the flight reduction aims to increase the availability of reserve aircraft, minimize last-minute cancellations, and reinforce passenger confidence. A revised international flight schedule will be announced shortly.
The airline cited multiple factors contributing to flight cancellations, including ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, night curfews affecting airspace in several European and East Asian countries, ongoing safety inspections, and a cautious approach by engineering staff and pilots.
Over the past six days, a total of 83 international flights have been canceled. To maintain operational stability, improve efficiency, and minimize inconvenience to passengers, Air India has opted to scale back wide-body international services temporarily.
The Tata Group, Air India’s parent company, has expressed deep condolences and announced compensation of ₹1 crore (approximately $120,000) to each victim’s family.
The group is also covering medical expenses for the injured and contributing to the rebuilding of the affected medical college hostel.
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson emphasized the airline’s commitment to transparency and cooperation with investigators. The black box and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered, with a preliminary report expected within 30 days.
The cutbacks will be in effect from June 20 to mid-July, as part of efforts to bolster operational safety and stability.
