Following the tragic June 12 crash of Air India Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad, the airline experienced an approximately 20% drop in bookings, especially on medium- and long-haul routes
🧠 6 Measures Air India Is Taking
- Ticket Fare Reductions
To attract travelers, Air India slashed fares on affected routes, mirroring industry-wide trends after the incident . - Flight Cancellations & Schedule Cuts
A 15% temporary cut in international wide-body flights has helped manage aircraft availability and upkeep - Fleet-Wide Safety Checks
Enhanced inspections on 26 of 33 Boeing 787s, plus additional scrutiny of 777s, have now concluded - CEO’s Assurance Campaign
CEO Campbell Wilson sent direct email updates to flyers outlining safety protocols, inspection outcomes, and fleet status - Rebooking & Refund Policies
Affected passengers are being offered free rebooking or full refunds to ease concerns - Coordination with DGCA & International Experts
Regulators and aviation bodies—including Boeing, GE, and UK investigators—are actively involved to enhance scrutiny
🔮 Market & Passenger Response
- Booking Sentiment: A 20% slump in demand highlights growing passenger anxiety despite assurance efforts apnews.com.
- Kolkata Traffic Resilient: Local data from Kolkata showed stable flight numbers, indicating confidence remains regionally intact
- Sectoral and Stock Impact: The crash sent ripples through aviation and booking platforms, with airline stocks like IndiGo and SpiceJet dipping 3–4% and Boeing losing ~8%
✅ Final Takeaway
A sharp 20% decline in bookings highlights the urgent need for Air India to restore traveler confidence. Through safety protocols, fare adjustments, customer-centric policies, and regulatory coordination, the airline is taking strong steps to rebound. But its success will hinge on sustained safety reassurance and transparent communication.
