Air India, India’s leading airline, has announced a temporary reduction of international flights in response to the devastating crash of one of its aircraft last week. The flight incident, which occurred on June 12, resulted in the loss of at least 270 lives and has since provoked widespread passenger concern and operational disruption. The airline, in a statement issued late Wednesday via social media, revealed that it would cut international services involving wide-body jets by 15%, starting immediately and extending at least until mid-July.
This decision follows direct instructions from Indian aviation authorities that the airline must enhance its operational standards. Air India has faced a surge of complaints related to flight cancellations, malfunctioning cabin devices, and a lack of clear communication with affected passengers. Compounding these issues, the closure of airspace over Iran due to ongoing tensions with Israel has forced longer flight paths, further straining the airline's schedule.
On Tuesday, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducted technical inspections of Air India’s 33 Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes, the same model implicated in the crash. While no significant safety threats were identified, maintenance-related concerns were flagged, prompting the regulator to urge Air India to improve internal coordination among its engineering and operation teams. Recommendations also include enhancing communication strategies with passengers and developing a more efficient system for reporting internal aircraft defects in real-time.
With a comprehensive fleet of 128 planes, Air India operates around 1,000 flights daily, servicing numerous international destinations, including highly trafficked routes like the direct flight from Delhi to New York.
This decision follows direct instructions from Indian aviation authorities that the airline must enhance its operational standards. Air India has faced a surge of complaints related to flight cancellations, malfunctioning cabin devices, and a lack of clear communication with affected passengers. Compounding these issues, the closure of airspace over Iran due to ongoing tensions with Israel has forced longer flight paths, further straining the airline's schedule.
On Tuesday, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducted technical inspections of Air India’s 33 Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes, the same model implicated in the crash. While no significant safety threats were identified, maintenance-related concerns were flagged, prompting the regulator to urge Air India to improve internal coordination among its engineering and operation teams. Recommendations also include enhancing communication strategies with passengers and developing a more efficient system for reporting internal aircraft defects in real-time.
With a comprehensive fleet of 128 planes, Air India operates around 1,000 flights daily, servicing numerous international destinations, including highly trafficked routes like the direct flight from Delhi to New York.
