New Delhi, June 23 - Air India, the Tata Group-owned carrier, announced on June 22, 2025, a temporary reduction in its narrow-body flight operations, affecting both domestic and short-haul international routes. The airline will cut approximately 5% of its narrow-body network, equating to 118 weekly flights across 19 routes, and suspend services entirely on three routes until at least July 15, 2025. This decision follows a prior announcement of a 15% reduction in its wide-body international flights, reflecting a broader strategy to address operational challenges. The move is described as voluntary, aimed at enhancing network-wide stability and minimizing last-minute disruptions for passengers. Despite these cuts, Air India will maintain close to 600 daily narrow-body flights, covering over 120 domestic and regional destinations.
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The three routes facing complete suspension are Bengaluru to Singapore, Pune to Singapore, and Mumbai to Bagdogra, each previously operating seven weekly flights. Among the routes with reduced frequencies, significant changes include Delhi to Bengaluru, dropping from 116 to 113 weekly flights, Delhi to Mumbai, reduced from 176 to 165, and Delhi to Kolkata, cut from 70 to 63. Other affected routes include Bengaluru to Chandigarh, Delhi to Coimbatore, and Delhi to both Goa Dabolim and Goa Mopa, with some seeing reductions as substantial as halving their weekly services. These adjustments are part of a response to recent operational pressures, including enhanced pre-flight safety checks and extended flight durations due to airspace restrictions over the Middle East, particularly avoiding Iran, Iraq, Israel, and parts of the Persian Gulf amid escalating regional tensions.
Air India’s decision comes in the wake of a tragic Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash on June 13, 2025, near Ahmedabad, which claimed 241 lives. The incident prompted intensified safety inspections across the airline’s fleet, contributing to the need for schedule adjustments. The airline is also navigating longer flight paths to destinations like the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and select European and North American cities, increasing fuel and crew costs. These factors have tightened aircraft availability, necessitating a leaner schedule to create operational buffers.
To mitigate passenger inconvenience, Air India is proactively contacting those affected, offering re-accommodation on alternative flights, complimentary rescheduling, or full refunds based on customer preference. The revised schedule is being progressively updated on the airline’s website, mobile app, and through its contact center. Air India has expressed regret for the disruptions and emphasized its commitment to restoring the full schedule as soon as practicable, while prioritizing the safety of passengers, crew, and aircraft. The airline continues to consult external security advisors to monitor the Middle East situation, ready to implement further measures if required to ensure operational integrity.