Air India Cuts Narrowbody Flights Following Widebody Reductions

Air India Reduces Narrowbody Flights Following Widebody Service Cuts

Operational Adjustments Amid Safety and Geopolitical Challenges

Air India has announced a temporary reduction of less than 5% in its narrowbody flight operations, following a prior 15% cut to its widebody international services. This decision comes in response to a combination of safety inspections triggered by a recent crash, ongoing conflict in the Middle East, and new airspace restrictions affecting the airline’s routes.

The latest schedule revision involves the suspension of services on three narrowbody routes and a reduction in frequency on 19 others, with these changes set to remain in effect until at least July 15. The airline has emphasized that these measures aim to enhance operational stability and reduce last-minute disruptions for passengers.

Despite the reductions, Air India will continue to operate nearly 600 daily flights using its narrowbody fleet across 120 domestic and short-haul international routes. The airline has assured travelers that those affected by the schedule changes are being proactively contacted and offered alternative flights, complimentary rescheduling, or full refunds according to their preferences.

“The revised schedule is being progressively made available on our website, airindia.com, mobile app, and through our contact centre. We remain committed to restoring our full schedule as soon as practicable, while at all times prioritising the safety of our passengers, crew and aircraft,” the airline stated.

Regulatory Recommendations and Airspace Avoidance

The temporary reductions follow recommendations from regulatory authorities, which identified maintenance-related issues and called for improvements in Air India’s internal coordination and communication with passengers. The airline has pledged to address these concerns while maintaining transparency with travelers.

In addition to the schedule adjustments, Air India confirmed that all its flights are currently avoiding certain airspaces over the Persian Gulf due to escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. Consequently, flights to destinations such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait, as well as select services to and from Europe and North America, may experience longer flight durations.

“Amid escalating tensions in the Gulf region, Air India group confirms that our flights currently do not operate over the airspaces of Iran, Iraq, and Israel,” an airline spokesperson said. The carrier is working closely with external security advisors and continues to monitor the situation to ensure the safety and security of passengers, staff, and aircraft.

Air India reiterated its commitment to keeping passengers informed of any further updates and to restoring its full schedule as soon as conditions permit.