Air India cuts frequencies across North America, UK, EU, Far East & Australia 'at least' till July 15

NEW DELHI: Air India will suspend flights between Amritsar & London Gatwick (LGW) along those between Goa (Mopa) & LGW and Delhi & Nairobi, along with reducing frequencies on some sectors across its long haul network that includes North America, UK, Europe, Far East and Australia, from Saturday (June 21) for different dates until at least July 15, 2025.

This is part of the temporary 15% wide body (Boeing 787 & B777) flight cuts the airline had announced Thursday. But as it comes at the fag end of the peak summer holiday season, it will impact a large number of passengers.

Due to enhanced checks on the Boeing 777s, frequencies of North America sectors on which AI is the only direct operator have been cut. So now Delhi and San Francisco will have seven weekly flights instead of 10 earlier; Delhi and Toronto will go down from 13 weekly to 7 weekly; Delhi & Chicago will drop from seven to three; Delhi & Washington (Dulles) from five to three and Delhi & Vancouver from seven to five. Between India and North America, AI is the largest operator of direct flights. United and American have only a daily between Delhi & New York.

Europe routes will also see frequency cuts. Delhi & London Heathrow (LHR) will go down from 24 to 22 weekly; Delhi & Paris from 14 to 12 and Bangalore & LHR from seven to six (see box). Australia, Tokyo and Seoul will also see temporary cuts.


Apart from aircraft shortage due to multiple factors, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s temporary one-month dispensation to AI for making its pilots fly longer due to Pakistan airspace closures that required longer detours ended on June 12. So AI’s pilot requirement for the longer west flights will also increase. “These reductions will be effective from June 21 and last until at least July 15, 2025…. arise from the decision to voluntary undertake enhanced pre-flight safety checks, as well as accommodate additional flight durations arising from airspace closures in the Middle East. The objective is to restore schedule stability and minimising last-minute inconvenience to passengers,” AI said in a statement, adding, “AI apologises to passengers affected by these curtailments, and is proactively offer(ing) re-accommodation on alternative flights, complimentary rescheduling or full refunds as per their preference.”

Detail of the flights affected are as follows-Routes suspended until 15 July 2025:• Delhi-Nairobi1 (AI961/962) – 4x weekly flights (Suspended until 30 June)
• Amritsar-London (Gatwick) (AI169/170) – 3x weekly flights
• Goa (Mopa)-London (Gatwick) (AI145/146) – 3x weekly flights

Routes with reduced frequency until 15 July 2025:
North America• Delhi-Toronto: Reduced from 13x weekly to 7x weekly
• Delhi-Vancouver: Reduced from 7x weekly to 5x weekly
• Delhi-San Francisco: Reduced from 10x weekly to 7x weekly
• Delhi-Chicago: Reduced from 7x weekly to 3x weekly
• Delhi-Washington (Dulles): Reduced from 5x weekly to 3x weekly

Europe• Delhi-London (Heathrow): Reduced from 24x weekly to 22x weekly
• Bengaluru-London (Heathrow): Reduced from 7x weekly to 6x weekly
• Amritsar-Birmingham and Delhi Birmingham: Reduced from 3x weekly to 2x weekly
• Delhi-Paris: Reduced from 14x weekly to 12x weekly
• Delhi-Milan: Reduced from 7x weekly to 4x weekly
• Delhi-Copenhagen: Reduced from 5x weekly to 3x weekly
• Delhi-Vienna: Reduced from 4x weekly to 3x weekly
• Delhi-Amsterdam: Reduced from 7x weekly to 5x weekly

Australia• Delhi-Melbourne and Delhi-Sydney: Reduced from 7x weekly to 5x weekly

Far-East• Delhi-Tokyo (Haneda): Reduced from 7x weekly to 6x weekly
• Delhi-Seoul (Incheon): Reduced from 5x weekly to 4x weekly2 (To operate 3x weekly from 21 June to 5 July, and 4x weekly from 6 July to 15 July)

(Source: AI)