New Delhi: Air India will begin resuming international operations from August 1, the airline announced on Tuesday, more than six weeks after a catastrophic crash of its Boeing 787 aircraft led to a temporary suspension of several global routes. The airline, now undergoing a strategic overhaul under the Tata Group, has termed the halt a “safety pause” to allow comprehensive inspections of its wide-body fleet.
The tragic crash, which occurred on June 12 during a flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, resulted in the loss of 260 lives—marking one of the worst aviation disasters in India’s civil aviation history. Only one passenger survived the accident.
Air India’s statement emphasized that the resumption will be gradual, with select routes restarting in August and full operations expected by October 1. The airline noted that the delay also accounted for geopolitical airspace restrictions over parts of Pakistan and the Middle East, which have complicated long-haul flight scheduling.
Partial Resumption: August and September
As part of the phased rollout:
Ahmedabad–London Heathrow will operate three weekly flights, replacing the suspended five-weekly Gatwick route.
Delhi–Zurich will increase to five weekly flights from the current four.
Delhi–Tokyo Haneda returns to full daily operations.
Delhi–Seoul Incheon will resume five weekly flights starting September 1.
Delhi–London Heathrow has already returned to full service with 24 weekly flights as of July 16.
Several other European and North American routes remain scaled down, including those to Paris, Milan, Copenhagen, Birmingham, and various U.S. and Canadian cities such as Chicago, New York, and Toronto. The Mumbai–JFK route will operate six times weekly instead of daily, while Delhi–Chicago increases slightly to four weekly flights in August.
Flights to Amsterdam, Melbourne, and Sydney are also resuming or continuing at near-normal frequencies, although the Delhi–Nairobi route will be suspended after August. Services to London Gatwick from Amritsar and Goa, along with Southeast Asia-bound routes like Bengaluru–Singapore and Pune–Singapore, remain suspended until at least September 30.
Safety at the Forefront
In the wake of the June crash, Air India grounded and audited all Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in its fleet. While no systemic faults were immediately detected, the airline said the inspections were a “preventive measure to reassure flyers” and enhance fleet reliability.
A senior official at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), speaking on condition of anonymity, said the government had mandated additional layers of technical clearance and compliance reporting for wide-body operations until further notice.
“We cannot afford reputational risks or human cost. Safety comes first,” the official said.
Passenger Support and Refund Policy
Acknowledging the disruption to thousands of travellers, the airline said passengers affected by route reductions or cancellations in August and September are being contacted directly. Air India is offering full refunds or alternative bookings, with priority support available via its customer service portal.
“Passenger safety, transparency, and flexibility are central to our recovery strategy,” the airline said in a statement.
The airline also issued an apology to passengers, stating: “We deeply regret the inconvenience caused by this necessary pause and remain committed to restoring full service responsibly and securely.”
Strategic Recovery Amid Challenges
Air India’s international ambitions, particularly under the Tata Group’s multi-year revival plan, have faced turbulence amid geopolitical uncertainties, technical scrutiny, and rising competition from Gulf carriers and new Indian entrants.
Aviation analysts point out that the long-term brand damage from the crash is yet to be fully measured. However, experts also note that Air India’s swift audit and transparent communication could reinforce passenger confidence in the months ahead.
“With increased scrutiny comes increased trust, if managed well,” said a Mumbai-based aviation safety analyst. “But it’s a long road back.”
