New Delhi — Air India has partially resumed several international flights following a safety pause triggered by the June 12 crash of flight AI171 in Ahmedabad. The decision marks the beginning of a phased recovery, with full network restoration expected by October 1, 2025.
The temporary suspension, known internally as a "Safety Pause," allowed the airline to conduct enhanced inspections on its Boeing 787 fleet and respond to airspace restrictions over Pakistan and parts of the Middle East, which caused extended flight durations.
Flights Resuming
Beginning August 1, several major routes will return with updated schedules:
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Ahmedabad–London Heathrow: New 3x weekly service (replacing Gatwick flights)
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Delhi–London Heathrow: Back to 24x weekly from July 16
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Delhi–Zurich: Resumes at 5x weekly from August 1
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Delhi–Tokyo Haneda: Full 7x weekly service restarts August 1
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Delhi–Seoul Incheon: Set to return 5x weekly from September 1
Routes Remaining Reduced or Suspended
Several routes will operate at reduced frequencies or remain fully suspended through September:
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Reduced:
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Delhi–Birmingham
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Delhi–Paris
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Delhi–New York (JFK)
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Mumbai–New York (JFK)
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Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, San Francisco
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Fully Suspended until Sept. 30:
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Amritsar–London Gatwick
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Goa (Mopa)–London Gatwick
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Bengaluru–Singapore
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Pune–Singapore
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The Nairobi service will operate through August 31 and then pause for the entire month of September.
Network Outlook
Air India confirmed it will operate over 525 weekly international flights across 63 destinations by October. Passengers on suspended routes will be contacted for rebooking or full refunds.
“This phased return is grounded in our core commitment to safety,” the airline said. “The extended pause allowed thorough aircraft checks and adaptation to regional airspace restrictions.”
