Air India ticket prices have gone down sharply on both domestic and international routes after a Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed last week. Many flights are also being cancelled as the airline inspects its aircraft.
Flight Fares Drop
According to travel platform ixigo, the prices of last-minute tickets (booked 0–15 days before travel) have fallen compared to the previous week (June 6–12). Here’s how fares have changed:
International Routes:
- Delhi to Kuala Lumpur: down 16% to ₹11,389
- Dubai & Sydney routes: around 5% drop
- Melbourne: dropped by 2%
- Mumbai to some destinations: fares dropped by 1%
- Routes to Germany, Hong Kong, and Australia also saw price drops
- Flights to the UK were the only ones to see a price increase
Domestic Routes:
- Bengaluru to Hyderabad: down 24% to ₹3,314
- Bengaluru to Pune & Chennai: both dropped 22%
- Delhi to Ahmedabad: down 21%
- Mumbai to Chennai: dropped 21%
- Smaller drops on Delhi-Hyderabad (2%) and Mumbai-Ahmedabad (1%)
What’s Happening with the Aircraft?
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson explained that:
- The crashed Dreamliner had passed a major check in June 2023
- Its right engine was overhauled in March and the left engine was checked in April
- Regular checks showed no issues before the crash
Inspections and Cancellations
After the crash, India’s aviation authority told Air India to inspect all 33 of its Dreamliner planes. So far, 26 planes have been checked.
Read more: No Faults Found, Yet 275 Lives Lost — Air India CEO Responds Dreamliner was well-maintained
Because of these inspections, plus airspace closures and night-time restrictions, some flights are being cancelled. To manage the situation better, Air India will reduce its international wide-body flights by 15% from June 20 to mid-July so that extra planes can be kept ready if needed.
