Saturday, March 29, 2025
Air India Cuts 15% of International Flights Using Wide-Body Jets After Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Mumbai – In the wake of the recent Ahmedabad plane crash, Air India has announced a significant operational decision: the airline will reduce its international operations using wide-body aircraft by 15% until mid-July. The Tata Group-owned carrier stated that it is enhancing safety inspections of its Boeing 777 fleet as a precautionary measure.
The move comes as Air India grapples with ongoing operational challenges. In the past six days alone, at least 83 international flights have been cancelled. A company statement highlighted that engineers and pilots are taking additional precautions to ensure aircraft safety and compliance with all operational norms.
On Wednesday, the airline cancelled three international flights due to maintenance and technical issues—two of them after passengers had already boarded. Notably, flight AI 188 from Toronto to Delhi, scheduled for June 18, was cancelled due to mandatory maintenance. Passengers were deboarded and offered alternative arrangements. Similarly, Dubai–Delhi flight AI 996 was cancelled for technical reasons.
Another flight, AI 2145 from Delhi to Bali, was grounded after reports of volcanic activity near Bali Airport. The aircraft returned safely to Delhi, and all passengers were disembarked without incident.
Air India has assured affected travelers that efforts are being made to reroute them to their destinations as soon as possible, including full refunds where necessary. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also intensified its monitoring of Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet in the aftermath of the crash.
Meanwhile, a separate security alert at Hyderabad’s Begumpet Airport turned out to be a false alarm. An email about a bomb threat prompted a full security sweep, including deployment of the bomb squad and fire services. Authorities later confirmed it was a hoax and have launched an investigation.
In another disruption, Air India’s Mumbai–Lucknow flight was suddenly cancelled on Wednesday due to diversions caused by heavy rainfall in Delhi. Other flights across multiple airlines also faced delays, including AI-2478 and AI-811, which were delayed by over an hour due to weather conditions and operational issues.
