Pune: Air India is temporarily reducing its narrow-body flight operations by about 5% after a tragic accident earlier this month. The carrier announced scaled-down services across its domestic network, including fewer flights on 19 routes and the temporary suspension of three routes — two international and one domestic. These adjustments come after Flight AI-171, en route from Ahmedabad to London, crashed into a hostel in Ahmedabad’s Meghani Nagar on June 12. The crash resulted in 274 fatalities — 241 passengers, one crew member, and 33 people on the ground.
The airline confirmed that these short-term cutbacks, representing less than 5% of its narrow-body schedule, will last until at least July 15 to help stabilise operations and prevent last-minute cancellations. Despite the changes, the company will continue to offer around 600 daily flights across its 120 domestic and short-haul international routes.
Major Domestic Reductions Include:
Bengaluru–Chandigarh: Cut from 14 to 7 flights per week
Delhi–Mumbai: From 176 to 165 flights per week
Delhi–Kolkata: From 70 to 63 flights per week
Delhi–Goa (Dabolim): From 14 to 7 flights per week
Mumbai–Kolkata: From 42 to 30 flights per week
Mumbai–Varanasi: From 12 to 7 flights per week
(And several other routes; full schedule updates are on Air India’s official website)
Suspended Routes:
Bengaluru–Singapore (AI2392/2393)
Pune–Singapore (AI2111/2110)
Mumbai–Bagdogra (AI551/552)
Reasons for the Cutbacks
These service reductions follow the crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad. According to reports, the aircraft struck a hostel building on the BJ Medical College campus shortly after takeoff.
Ravi Gosain, President of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), noted that Air India’s domestic bookings fell nearly 20% after the crash, and fares have dropped by up to 15%.
Support for Affected Passengers
Air India is reaching out to impacted customers directly and offering the following options:
Free rescheduling
Full refunds
Alternate flights
Travellers can check updated schedules on Air India’s website, mobile app, or customer support channels. The airline is focused on returning to its regular schedule as quickly as safety permits.
How to Check Refund Status
Visit the Air India refund portal and select “Status Check on Pending Refund” to submit your details.
