Air India is starting to bring back several international routes after a temporary reduction in services triggered by a tragic runway incident and ongoing airspace disruptions.

Here’s the context: following a fatal accident involving flight AI171 on June 12, 2025, the airline announced a “Safety Pause” to conduct additional inspections on its Boeing 787 fleet. At the same time, airspace closures over Pakistan and parts of the Middle East forced longer flight paths, reducing the number of feasible flights.

Now, Air India says it will begin restoring some of its international schedules from August 1, with full restoration targeted for October 1, 2025.

New Ahmedabad–London Heathrow Route

From August 1 to September 30, Air India will launch a 3x weekly service between Ahmedabad and London Heathrow, replacing the current 5x weekly flights to Gatwick.

This move improves connectivity to Heathrow, a major hub, and likely aligns with broader capacity shifts across the London network during the phased resumption.

Flights That Are Coming Back

Air India is reinstating key international routes, including Delhi to London, Tokyo, Zurich, and Seoul, with increased frequencies starting August 1 as part of its phased return to full operations.

Europe

• Delhi–London Heathrow: Now fully restored to 24x weekly, effective July 16.
• Delhi–Zurich: Goes from 4x to 5x weekly, starting August 1.

Far East

• Delhi–Tokyo Haneda: Restored to daily service (7x weekly) from August 1.
• Delhi–Seoul Incheon: Back to 5x weekly from September 1.

Africa

• Delhi–Nairobi: Running 3x weekly through August, but suspended in September.

Routes Still Running on Reduced Schedules (Until September 30)

Europe

• Bengaluru–London Heathrow: Drops further from 6x to 4x weekly, August 1 onward.
• Amritsar–Birmingham: Still at 2x weekly; full 3x weekly service resumes September 1.
• Delhi–Paris: Cut from 12x to 7x weekly, starting August 1.
• Other reductions continue for Delhi routes to Birmingham, Milan, Copenhagen, Vienna, and Amsterdam. Notably, Amsterdam will return to daily flights on August 1.

North America

• Delhi–Washington, Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, San Francisco: All running at lower-than-usual frequencies.
• Delhi and Mumbai to New York JFK: Each reduced to 6x weekly.
• Delhi–Newark Liberty: Cut to 4x weekly.

Australia

• Both Delhi–Melbourne and Delhi–Sydney operate at 5x weekly.

Temporarily Suspended Flights

According to Air India, the following routes will remain off the map until September 30. The airline says it is contacting all affected passengers to offer alternative flights or full refunds.

• Amritsar–London Gatwick
• Goa (Mopa)–London Gatwick
• Bengaluru–Singapore
• Pune–Singapore

Why These Cuts Happened

The original flight reductions were part of a “Safety Pause” following the accident involving flight AI171. This allowed Air India to:

• Carry out precautionary safety inspections on its Boeing 787 fleet.
• Adapt to longer flying times due to restricted airspace over Pakistan and parts of the Middle East, which affected aircraft turnaround times and crew availability.

In short: safety first, followed by operational constraints.

Where Things Stand Now

With this phased recovery, Air India will be operating more than 525 international flights per week across 63 short-, long-, and ultra-long-haul routes by August. That number is expected to rise in October, when full restoration of schedules is planned.

What You Can Do if Your Flight Is Affected

If your flight is among those reduced or suspended:

• Air India will contact you directly with options.
• You can either rebook or request a full refund.

It’s a good idea to check your email and booking status regularly during this transition.

Final Thoughts

Air India’s gradual return to normal scheduling is a key moment for travellers who rely on its international network. While disruptions will continue through September, the airline is aiming for full recovery by October, making this a good time to track routes if you’re planning fall or winter travel.

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