Air India is set to reduce frequencies on three key U.S. routes effective June 21 through at least July 15.
Travelers should note that the Delhi-San Francisco route will be adjusted from 10 flights weekly to a daily schedule. Likewise, the Delhi-Chicago O’Hare service will see a decrease from daily flights to three times a week. Additionally, the Delhi-Washington Dulles route will shift from five to three flights per week.
This decision comes as Air India undertakes enhanced safety checks on its widebody fleet following a tragic incident on June 12, when a Boeing 787 crashed in Ahmedabad, claiming the lives of 241 passengers and crew members, along with 29 individuals on the ground. For further details about the incident, read more about the Boeing 787 crash.
As a response to the accident, India’s civil aviation authority has already cleared 26 of the airline’s 33 Dreamliners after stringent safety assessments. In addition, Air India has opted to conduct checks on its fleet of Boeing 777 aircraft.
These thorough safety inspections, coupled with extended flight durations for numerous routes due to current restrictions on Indian carriers overflying Pakistan, resulted in Air India canceling 83 international flights between June 13 and June 18. This has contributed to an overall 15% reduction in the carrier’s international flight schedule during the June 21 to July 15 period, aimed at improving flight reliability.
Air India has expressed its regret to passengers affected by these flight reductions. The airline assures customers that they will be informed in advance and that efforts will be made to accommodate them on alternative flights. Furthermore, affected passengers will have the option to either reschedule their travel without any additional charges or receive a full refund, based on their preferences.
