Travel
After AI171 Crash Tragedy, Air India Resumes Paused Flights, Adds London Route
Air India will gradually restore paused international flights from August, including new and reinstated routes, following safety checks and operational adjustments post-AI171 incident.
In the aftermath of tragedy, recovery begins with resilience—and Air India is demonstrating just that. Following the unfortunate crash of Flight AI171, which shook the aviation community and prompted deep introspection, the airline swiftly launched a comprehensive “Safety Pause.”
This decision, though disruptive, was necessary to allow precautionary inspections of its Boeing 787 fleet and to navigate new routing challenges brought on by Pakistan’s airspace closure. Now, Air India is preparing to bounce back, gradually resuming many of its international flights starting this August.
New Route: Ahmedabad to London Heathrow
As part of the revised schedule, Air India will introduce a new routing between Ahmedabad and London Heathrow, operating three times a week from 01 August to 30 September.
This new service will temporarily replace the current five weekly flights to London Gatwick, offering passengers enhanced connectivity to the UK’s busiest international hub while streamlining operations during the airline’s recovery phase.
Restoring Skies: Routes Being Reinstated
Air India is also set to bring back several previously reduced or paused flights. In Europe, the Delhi–London Heathrow route will return to full strength with 24 weekly flights beginning 16 July. The Delhi–Zurich route will see a boost from four to five weekly flights starting 01 August.
In the Far East, Delhi–Tokyo Haneda will resume its full schedule of seven flights a week from 01 August, while Delhi–Seoul Incheon will restore all five weekly services from 01 September. These reinstatements mark a positive step toward normalcy and reaffirm Air India’s commitment to its global network.
Routes with Continued Reductions
Despite the positive momentum, several routes will remain reduced or operate on revised frequencies through 30 September. In Europe, the Bengaluru–London Heathrow service will decrease further to four flights weekly, while Amritsar–Birmingham will stay at two flights weekly until it increases back to three from 01 September.
Routes to Paris, Milan, Copenhagen, Vienna, and Amsterdam will continue to operate at limited capacity, though Amsterdam will resume daily service from 01 August.
In North America, reductions will persist across major routes, including Delhi–Washington, Delhi–Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, and Vancouver. Flights to New York JFK from both Delhi and Mumbai will be reduced to six per week, and Delhi–Newark Liberty will drop to four weekly flights starting 16 July.
Similarly, in Australia, both Delhi–Melbourne and Delhi–Sydney will remain reduced to five flights per week. The Delhi–Nairobi route, recently reinstated with three weekly flights, will be suspended again in September.
Temporary Suspensions Continue
Several routes remain temporarily suspended through 30 September, including Amritsar–London Gatwick, Goa (Mopa)–London Gatwick, Bengaluru–Singapore, and Pune–Singapore. These ongoing suspensions reflect the cautious and phased nature of Air India’s recovery plan.
Over 525 International Flights Weekly
Despite the disruptions, Air India is steadily climbing back to full strength. By August, the airline will operate over 525 international flights per week, spanning 63 destinations across short-haul, long-haul, and ultra-long-haul segments. This measured comeback shows the airline’s commitment to regaining customer trust while maintaining the highest safety standards.
Passengers affected by these schedule changes are being proactively contacted, with options to rebook on alternate flights or receive a full refund. Air India has apologized for the inconvenience and reaffirmed that passenger safety remains its top priority.
Final Thoughts
The tragic crash of AI171 cast a long shadow—but in that shadow, Air India is choosing to rebuild with caution, care, and transparency. Its phased restoration of services shows a strategic focus on safety without losing sight of its global responsibilities.
For passengers and the aviation world alike, this is more than just the resumption of flights—it’s a hopeful sign that Indian aviation is back on course, with clear skies ahead.
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