Following the deadly crash of the Air India AI171 flight in Ahmedabad on 12 June 2025, which claimed 275 lives, the airline has cancelled dozens of international flights and warned that further cancellations may follow.
Air India has grounded 15 percent of its wide-body international schedule between 21 June and 15 July, with further extensions possible. London Gatwick services from Amritsar and Goa have been suspended, along with full suspension of Delhi – Nairobi and Goa – Gatwick routes. Flights to Heathrow and Birmingham, as well as long-haul services from Delhi, Bengaluru, and Amritsar to North America, Australia, Japan, and Europe, have seen reduced frequency. The Ahmedabad – Gatwick service remains unaffected.
Air India’s CEO Campbell Wilson explained the cancellations are a safety precaution.
#ImportantUpdate
— Air India (@airindia) June 19, 2025
Further to the press statement released yesterday, 18 June 2025, which announced a temporary reduction in services operated by Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft, we wish to provide details on the flights affected.
These reductions will be effective from 21 June 2025,…
‘Arising from this tragedy, and as directed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), we have been conducting thorough safety inspections on our 33 Boeing 787 aircraft. So far, inspections have been completed on 26, and these have been cleared for service. The remaining aircraft are currently in planned maintenance and will have these additional checks done before being released into service.’
Wilson added that the surge in cancellations is also linked to airspace closures over Iran and the Middle East, night-time airport restrictions, and ‘normal airline technical issues’. As an additional precaution, Air India has extended these enhanced safety checks to its Boeing 777 fleet.
Speaking to the Indian channel Times Now, Air India’s chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, said the Boeing 787-8 generally has a strong safety record. Regarding the crashed aircraft, he explained it had a new right engine installed in March 2025 and its left engine was last serviced in 2023, with the next maintenance due in December 2025.
Message from Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD, Air India. pic.twitter.com/vw3osNwukH
— Air India (@airindia) June 13, 2025
Broader safety concerns and a disrupted renaissance
The crash comes at a delicate time for Air India, which has been investing heavily in modernisation and a brand revival.
Meanwhile, India’s aviation regulator has issued warning notices to Air India over separate safety violations. According to Reuters, the airline allowed three Airbus planes to fly despite being overdue mandatory checks on their emergency slides and was reportedly slow to address the issue. These notices and the related investigation were issued days before the crash and are not linked to last week’s accident.
UPDATE: Air India has set up Friends & Relatives Assistance Centres at Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi and Gatwick airports to provide support and take care of the needs of the families and loved ones of those on flight AI171. These centres are facilitating the travel of family members…
— Air India (@airindia) June 13, 2025
What are your rights?
From the UK/EU
Under EU Regulation 261/2004, passengers whose flights are cancelled less than 14 days before departure, when the cancellation is not due to extraordinary circumstances, are entitled to a refund or a re-routing option, which may include flights with another airline if necessary. They must also be provided with meals, refreshments, and hotel accommodation if required. In addition, passengers can claim cash compensation ranging from €250 to €600, depending on the distance of the flight and the length of the delay. In the UK and EU, this compensation is a legal right and applies automatically when the airline is responsible for the disruption.
From India
Passenger rights are more limited. Travellers may be offered alternative flights with Air India or Star Alliance partners, but there is no automatic entitlement to meals, hotel stays, or compensation. Under the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation’s passenger charter, cash compensation is not systematically granted and is usually provided only in specific cases or at the airline’s discretion.
Market impact
With thousands of long-haul seats pulled from the market, demand pressure will shift to major Gulf carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways.
CEO Campbell Wilson concluded: ‘This is a challenging time for all of us… safety must always come first. Your trust means everything to us.’ He encouraged affected passengers to contact customer support for assistance.
