Air India is facing significant operational challenges, leading to the cancellation of at least nine long-haul flights today, primarily affecting its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. These disruptions follow closely on the heels of a tragic crash on June 12, 2025, involving an Air India Dreamliner shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, resulting in over 270 fatalities. The recent cancellations are attributed to a combination of factors, including intensified safety checks, aircraft unavailability due to airspace restrictions, and technical issues detected during pre-flight inspections.
The affected routes include key international destinations such as London, Paris, Dubai, and Vienna. Specifically, flights AI 915 (Delhi-Dubai), AI 153 (Delhi-Vienna), AI 143 (Delhi-Paris), AI 159 (Ahmedabad-London), and AI 133 (Bengaluru-London) have been cancelled. Additionally, flight AI 170 from London (Gatwick) to Amritsar has also been grounded. These cancellations are causing considerable inconvenience to passengers, with many stranded at airports or facing the daunting task of rescheduling their travel plans.
Air India has stated that it is providing affected passengers with hotel accommodations, full refunds, and complimentary rescheduling options. The airline is also working to make alternative arrangements to transport passengers to their destinations as quickly as possible. However, the sudden nature of these cancellations has led to chaotic scenes at airports, with passengers expressing frustration over last-minute notifications and the resulting disruptions to their travel itineraries.
The recent Ahmedabad crash has prompted the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to mandate more stringent safety checks on all Dreamliner aircraft. These enhanced inspections, which include detailed system checks and flight control inspections, are contributing to longer turnaround times for aircraft, exacerbating the issue of aircraft unavailability. While a complete grounding of the Dreamliner fleet was initially considered, the DGCA ultimately opted for enhanced inspections, a decision that has nonetheless impacted Air India's operations significantly.
Adding to the complexity, airspace restrictions due to ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly the conflict between Israel and Iran, have forced airlines to reroute flights, increasing flight times and further straining resources. The closure of Iranian airspace, coupled with congestion at air traffic control hubs like Dubai, has created a perfect storm of challenges for Air India and other airlines operating in the region.
The situation is particularly challenging for Air India, which has been undergoing a major transformation since its acquisition by the Tata Group. While the airline has made significant strides in modernizing its fleet and improving its services, these recent events represent a setback to its turnaround efforts. The airline has added 104 aircraft to its fleet since the takeover, revived long-grounded planes, and placed a historic order for 470 new jets in 2023. A $400 million retrofit plan is underway, and training academies for pilots and crew have been launched to match the growth tempo. On average, the airline expects one new aircraft delivery every six days in 2025.
The grounding of a San Francisco-Mumbai flight in Kolkata due to a technical snag further underscores the operational difficulties Air India is currently facing. The incident led to passengers being deplaned and some accommodated in hotels, adding to the overall disruption.
