After a challenging month for India’s flagship airline, Air India has announced its return to global skies with a detailed plan to gradually resume international operations. The airline had suspended several international flights following the tragic crash of flight AI-171 on June 12. Since then, a wide safety inspection of the Boeing 787-8 fleet has been carried out under the strict supervision of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
With confidence regained and protocols reviewed, Air India is now prepared to restart its global routes in phases. Starting August 1, select key routes will see restored services and increased frequencies. The airline expects to be operating at full international capacity by October 1. This phased return comes as a signal of reassurance for flyers, especially those who had travel plans interrupted during the Safety Pause.
Among the early routes returning to full schedule is the Delhi to London Heathrow service, which will resume its original f
requency of 24 weekly flights starting July 16. Other routes seeing improvements from August include Delhi to Zurich, Tokyo, Seoul, and Amsterdam. By mid-September, these major destinations will once again be fully connected to the Indian capital, offering relief to business and leisure travelers alike.
Adding to the revival is the introduction of a new international connection between Ahmedabad and London Heathrow. This will replace the previous route that connected Ahmedabad to London Gatwick and will now operate three times a week. While many routes are returning, some remain limited through September. Delhi to Paris will see a reduction from twelve to seven weekly flights. Services from Bengaluru to London will operate only four times a week instead of the usual seven. Flights to cities such as Milan, Copenhagen, and Vienna are also continuing with fewer weekly trips.
In North America, long-haul services are still restricted. Flights to Washington, Chicago, New York, Toronto, San Francisco, and Vancouver will all run on limited schedules. Similarly, connections to Australia including Melbourne and Sydney will continue operating five times a week. Some routes remain fully suspended until the end of September. These include Amritsar to London Gatwick, Goa to London Gatwick, and services from both Bengaluru and Pune to Singapore.
Air India has assured that its top priority remains passenger safety and operational integrity. The decision to resume services has been made in close partnership with aviation authorities and aircraft maintenance experts. As part of its transition, the airline is proactively reaching out to passengers who were impacted by cancellations between August and September. Affected flyers are being offered rebooked options or full refunds.
The airline’s careful and transparent communication throughout the crisis has been appreciated by many, and this phased restoration plan is expected to further restore confidence among travelers. With the festive travel season approaching and global tourism picking up pace, Air India’s return to full international service comes at a crucial time.
For Indian travelers looking to reconnect with destinations around the world, this is welcome news. The mix of returning favorites and new international additions signals a confident step forward for the country’s aviation sector. Whether it is business trips to Europe or family reunions across North America, passengers can begin to plan with greater certainty once again.
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