Flying Air India? Here's how the Boeing 787 crash is affecting international travel

Air India will reduce its international widebody flight operations by 15% until at least mid-July, the airline announced Wednesday, as it grapples with a host of challenges following the crash of flight AI171 that killed 241 people on board.

Air India operates three widebody aircraft -- Boeing 787-8/9, Boeing 777 and A350.

The flight curtailments will remain in effect until at least mid-July, the airline said.

“The curtailments are a painful measure to take, but are necessary following a devastating event which we are still working through and an unusual combination of external events,” Air India said in a statement, referring to the tensions in the Middle East and night curfews in several airspaces across Europe and East Asia.

“It is done to restore operational stability, and to minimise last-minute inconvenience to passengers.”

Air India has not specified which routes will be affected by the cutback, but said impacted passengers will be informed in advance.

The airline also apologised to passengers who will be impacted by the temporary curtailment of overseas flights.

Passengers will be offered a choice to reschedule their travel without any cost or a full refund.

"With the continued support of our passengers, the regulatory authorities, Ministry of Civil Aviation and India at large, we will come out stronger through this tragic incident and re-establish the confidence of our passengers and all stakeholders in our services, at the earliest," it said.

Since the London Gatwick-bound Boeing 787-8 plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, Air India has witnessed international flight disruptions, especially with the ongoing safety checks of B787-8/9 aircraft.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

As part of its safety efforts, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has mandated enhanced safety inspections for Air India’s widebody fleet. Of the airline's 33 Boeing 787-8/9 aircraft, inspections on 26 have been completed and cleared for service, with the rest expected to be cleared in the coming days.