Air India to cut overseas flights on wide-body aircraft by 15% at least till mid-July

NEW DELHI: Air India will reduce its international services on wide-body aircraft by 15% with immediate effect “at least” till mid-July, reports Saurabh Sinha. AI operates about 70 international flights daily on its wide-body fleet. Multiple factors, including airspace closures, have increased flying times to and from the west and enhanced checks on Boeing 787s since AI 171 crash last Thursday have reduced twin aisle availability. The math was worked out thus: AI operated 462 flights on its wide-body fleet of Boeing 787s, B777s & Airbus A350s between June 2 and 17 while canceling 83 flights in that period. Which means 15.2% of the 545 flights that were to be operated were cancelled inconveniencing passengers. Taking that ratio and aligning schedules to actual capacity to mount flights, AI has cut wide body flights by 15%.