Air India Cancels Nine International Flights in a Day amid Safety Inspections and Aircraft Shortage

Air India on Tuesday cancelled nine international flights, including its Ahmedabad–London Gatwick service (AI 159), citing aircraft unavailability and ongoing safety checks. The cancellation of AI 159 occurred shortly after the flight missed its scheduled departure time of 1:10 PM, leading to confusion and speculation among passengers about a possible technical snag. However, the airline clarified that the disruption was not due to a fault in the aircraft, but rather a combination of restricted airspace over West Asia and extended safety inspections.

The Ahmedabad–London route had only resumed operations on Monday, following a four-day suspension after the June 12 Dreamliner incident involving flight AI 171. The same Boeing 787-8 aircraft returned from Gatwick to Ahmedabad on Tuesday, landing at 1:19 PM, several hours behind schedule further affecting turnaround logistics. The airline later issued a statement explaining that airspace limitations and additional precautionary checks were extending turnaround times and causing temporary disruptions in operations. It added that alternative travel arrangements had been made for the affected passengers.

A senior official from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that additional safety inspections were ordered for all Boeing 787 aircraft in Air India’s fleet. These measures, though necessary, are placing operational stress on the airline’s wide-body fleet, particularly its 34 Dreamliners. The official noted that these checks are reducing aircraft availability for scheduled flights, which may lead to further delays or temporary reduction in flight frequency, as per a Times Of India report.

The DGCA has also raised concerns over Air India’s maintenance standards and internal coordination. On Tuesday, DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai chaired a meeting with key airline executives, including Air India Managing Director Campbell Wilson, Director of Flight Operations Capt. Pankul Mathur, and Air India Express CEO Aloke Singh. The meeting focused on reviewing operational safety and ensuring continued compliance with regulatory norms related to passenger service and flight safety.

On Tuesday, In addition to AI 159, eight other international services were cancelled. These included flights on the Delhi–Vienna, Bengaluru–London, and Delhi–Paris routes, among others. The Delhi–Paris flight, in particular, was grounded after a potential issue was detected during a routine pre-flight check. Separately, a San Francisco–Mumbai flight was terminated midway at its scheduled stopover in Kolkata due to a technical issue in one of the engines.

Air India has assured passengers that it is taking all necessary steps to maintain safety while working to restore normal operations. While the cancellations caused inconvenience for many, the airline reiterated that passenger safety remains its top priority, especially in light of the recent Dreamliner-related incident.​