Air India Reduces International Flight Services; Listed Are the Impacted Routes
Air India slashes international flights due to safety measures and Middle East airspace restrictions
In June-July 2025, Air India is taking a temporary hit on their international flights, shrinking their widebody operations by 15%. This move comes in response to a tricky cocktail of safety measures needed following a devastating aircraft incident, and the escalating difficulties in global airspace, particularly in the Middle East.
Under this adjustment, some routes will be completely nixed, while others will see a decrease in weekly flights. Three international routes will be ditched for a while: Delhi-Nairobi, Amritsar-London Gatwick, and Goa (Mopa)-London Gatwick. But it's not just long-haul routes suffering - a reduction in frequency is happening on numerous North American and European routes too.
Here's the rundown on the North American route changes:- Delhi-Toronto will go from 13 weekly flights to 7.- Delhi-Vancouver drops from 7 to 5 flights.- Delhi-San Francisco and Delhi-Chicago are both cut from 10 to 7 flights.- Delhi-Washington D.C. (Dulles) goes from 5 flights to 3.
Europe isn't getting off scot-free either - adjustments include:- Delhi to London Heathrow decreased from 24 weekly flights to 22.- Bengaluru to London Heathrow slashed from 7 flights to 6.- Amritsar/Delhi to Birmingham and Delhi to Paris see fewer flights each week.- Delhi to Milan, Delhi to Copenhagen, Delhi to Vienna and Delhi to Amsterdam all experience minor frequency cuts.
The reductions also apply to destinations in Australia and the Far East, with routes like Delhi-Melbourne, Delhi-Sydney, Delhi-Tokyo (Haneda), and Delhi-Seoul (Incheon) getting pared back too.
Passengers affected by these changes are being notified by Air India, who are providing alternative flight options, complimentary rescheduling, or full refunds. The updated flight schedules can be found on their website, app, or through contact centers.
Air India aims to restore its full international flight schedule as soon as it's safe and stable to do so. Until then, the airline is grappling with post-crash safety checks, ongoing Middle Eastern airspace challenges, and nighttime flying restrictions, leading to 83 flight cancellations since the start of the issues.
Meanwhile, Air India remains operational on close to 600 daily flights on narrowbody aircraft across domestic and short-haul international routes. Keep an eye on their website or contact their representatives for updates on flight schedules and adjustments to their network.
[1] BBC News. (2025). Air India groups says losing $438m after air crash. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58876827
[2] Times of India. (2025). Air India reduces international widebody flights by 15%. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/air-india-cuts-15-of-international-flights-due-to-safety-measures-middle-east-restrictions/articleshow/109464779.cms
[3] Hindustan Times. (2025). Air India to cut 15% of widebody services due to global difficulties. https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/companies/air-india-to-cut-15-of-widebody-services-due-to-global-difficulties-101664327821102.html
- Due to safety measures and Middle East airspace restrictions, Air India's decisions to reduce its international flights have extended to various sectors beyond aviation, affecting public-transit schedules and even causing a ripple in the finance industry, as travelers reconsider their lifestyle choices for the foreseeable future.
- As Air India grapples with a 15% reduction in widebody operations following the air crash, the ripple effects are being felt across industries, with the finance sector keenly observing the company's losses, reported to be as high as $438 million in 2025.
- While the travel industry, both internationally and domestically, is experiencing a lull due to Air India's decreased widebody operations, the transportation sector continues to adapt, with bus and rail services potentially filling gaps for travelers in the interim, offering alternative modes of travel to accommodate changing lifestyles.
