Ahmedabad: Four days after the tragic crash of Air India flight AI 171, which claimed 241 lives, the direct flight between Ahmedabad and Gatwick-London is set to resume from Monday with a new flight number.

Although Air India has not issued an official statement, the airline’s website now lists the Ahmedabad–Gatwick flight under a new number — AI 159. The return flight will operate as AI 160, using a Boeing 787-8 aircraft.

The AI 171 flight number has been retired in the aftermath of the tragedy. According to aviation sources, such renumbering is a common industry practice, intended to help passengers and crew emotionally distance themselves from the incident and restore confidence in the route.

“Renumbering a flight after a major accident is a mark of respect for those who lost their lives. It also helps mitigate the psychological impact on future travellers,” as per a news report. Similar changes were made following previous air disasters, including Malaysia Airlines’ MH370 and Lion Air’s JT610, in line with international aviation norms. DeshGujarat