Air India announced on Wednesday that it would reduce international services operated by widebody aircraft by 15% from 20 June through at least mid-July, as the airline grapples with fallout from a recent fatal crash and mounting operational pressures.

The move comes less than a week after a tragic incident involving an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed shortly after takeoff on 12 June, en route to the United Kingdom.

The aircraft, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, collided with a building in the Meghaninagar area near Ahmedabad airport, killing 246 people.

Among the victims were 241 passengers and airline staff, as well as five medical students who were inside the medical college and hospital struck by the aircraft, according to hospital officials.

Several others within the building suffered injuries and received treatment. According to the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, one passenger, Vishwaskumar Ramesh, survived the crash and is undergoing recovery.

G.S. Malik, Police Commissioner of Ahmedabad, confirmed the Dreamliner had over 41,000 hours of flying time—an average amount for its class—and noted that prior to the crash, Boeing’s Dreamliner models had not been involved in any incident resulting in passenger fatalities.

In a press release, the airline cited dual challenges driving the decision: the ongoing safety inspections of its fleet and continuing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have disrupted operations and led to 83 flight cancellations in six days.

“Given the compounding circumstances that Air India is facing, to ensure stability of our operations, better efficiency and to minimise inconvenience to passengers, Air India has decided to reduce its international services on widebody aircraft by 15% for the next few weeks,” the airline stated.

Passengers affected by the reductions are being offered flexible options, including free rescheduling or full refunds.

Air India confirmed that 26 of the 33 Dreamliners in its fleet have been cleared and returned to service following inspections led by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

The airline also announced “enhanced safety checks” for its Boeing 777 fleet as a proactive measure and reiterated its full cooperation with authorities during the ongoing investigations.

The crash remains under scrutiny, as safety officials and regulators work to determine its cause in what is now the deadliest incident involving a Dreamliner aircraft to date.

The incident has raised fresh concerns around aviation safety in India and prompted widespread calls for tighter oversight and aircraft maintenance protocols.

Meanwhile, travellers are being urged to check flight statuses in advance as the airline adjusts to its temporarily reduced schedule.

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Source: Legit.ng