India’s largest international carrier, Air India, has announced a number of additional frequencies on key routes as part of its Northern Summer schedule, effective 30 March 2025.
In a press statement, Air India says that the modernisation of the airline’s narrowbody aircraft is progressing well and will complete in mid-2025, while the first of the legacy widebodies, a Boeing 787, will commence retrofit of new seats and entertainment systems in April and re-enter service in October 2025. Thereafter, two-to-three B787s will be inducted per month until all 27 legacy aircraft have been upgraded.
For United Kingdom, the following routes have received enhanced frequencies:
• Delhi-London Heathrow: Addition of 3x weekly flights, increasing from 21x to 24x weekly flights operated by a combination of Air India’ flagship A350-900 and upgraded B787-9 aircraft.
• Amritsar-Birmingham: Increasing from 3x to 4x weekly flights
• Amritsar-London Gatwick: Increasing from 3x to 4x weekly flights
• Ahmedabad-London Gatwick: Increasing from 3x to 5x weekly flights
For the rest of Europe:
• Delhi-Zurich: Increasing from 4x to 5x weekly flights
• Delhi-Vienna: Increasing from 3x to 4x weekly flights
Far East Asia:
• Delhi-Seoul (Incheon): Increasing from 4x to 5x weekly flights
• Delhi-Hong Kong: Switching from A321 to B787 Dreamliner on 7x weekly flights
Africa:
• Delhi-Nairobi: Increasing from 3x to 4x weekly flights
The airline says that retrofitting of the legacy Boeing 777 fleet with new seats and entertainment systems, originally due to commence in 2025, will now commence in early 2026 due to production constraints at the selected seat supplier.
In the meantime, Air India is taking the opportunity to refresh as many other elements of the B777 interiors as feasible during 2025, ahead of the full retrofit program.
Arising from the retrofit program and consequent temporary reduction in the operational fleet, the Airline will suspend its non-stop Mumbai-Melbourne service between 30 March and 13 September 2025, and the non-stop Kochi-London Gatwick route from 30 March 2025 until further notice. Air India will continue to operate 12x weekly flights to London Gatwick from Amritsar, Ahmedabad and Goa.
