Air India Reduces US Flights Amid Safety Checks, Middle East Airspace Issues
NEW DELHI (IANS) — Air India has announced a temporary reduction in its long-haul flight operations to the United States, citing a mix of enhanced safety procedures and extended flight durations due to airspace restrictions in the Middle East.
Starting June 21 and continuing through at least July 15, the airline will scale back several of its Boeing 787 and 777 services. The move, Air India said, is part of a voluntary effort to carry out more rigorous pre-flight safety checks and to adapt to longer flight times caused by the ongoing closure of certain Middle Eastern air corridors.
Among the affected routes are three key U.S. destinations:
- The Delhi–San Francisco route will drop from 10 flights a week to seven.
- The Delhi–Chicago service will operate just three times weekly instead of seven.
- Flights between Delhi and Washington D.C.’s Dulles Airport will reduce from five to three per week.
In a statement, Air India emphasized that the adjusted schedule is being progressively updated on its official website, mobile app, and customer service platforms.
