Why Air India flights are being cancelled—and what it means for your travel

Tata Group-owned Air India on Tuesday cancelled as many as 16 flights on Tuesday, mostly belonging to the airline’s Boeing 787 fleet, according to data shared by aviation regulator DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation).

13 of the cancelled flights were scheduled to be operated using the Boeing 787 aircraft. At least seven of these flights were international. The reasons behind these cancellations are varied, including enhanced safety checks on Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, operational issues such as technical snags, and airspace restrictions.

The B787 cancellations included Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, Gatwick-Amritsar, Delhi-Vienna, Delhi-Paris, Paris-Delhi, Delhi-Dubai, Bengaluru-London and London-Bengaluru.

After the deadly crash of the Ahmedabad-London flight AI 171, Air India is left with 33 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Of these, four aircraft are currently undergoing major checks at various MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) facilities. As of June 17, a total of 26 aircraft have successfully completed the required checks with one more scheduled for today. The remaining 2 aircraft are presently AOG (aircraft on ground) at Delhi. "The checks on these two will be carried out post-declaration of serviceability and prior to their return to service. The remaining 4 aircraft currently under MRO will undergo the mandated check prior to their release from the respective maintenance hangars," the aviation regulator said.

In a statement, Air India said Flight AI143 from Delhi to Paris on June 17 has been cancelled. “The mandatory pre-flight checks identified an issue which is being presently addressed. However, in view of the flight coming under the restrictions on night operations at Paris Charles de  Gaulle (CDG) airport, the said flight has been cancelled,” it said.

“We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers and are making alternative arrangements to fly them to their destination at the earliest. We are providing hotel accommodation and also offering full refunds on cancellations or complimentary rescheduling if opted by the passengers. Consequently, flight AI142 from Paris to Delhi on June 17, 2025 also stands cancelled,” an Air India spokesperson said.

On the Ahmedabad-London flight, Air India said Flight AI159 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick has been cancelled due to the unavailability of the aircraft, resulting from airspace restrictions and additional precautionary checks, leading to longer than usual turnaround of aircraft, and not due to any technical snag as claimed. “We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers and have made alternative arrangements to fly them to their destination. We are providing hotel accommodation and also offering full refunds on cancellations or complimentary rescheduling if opted by the passengers. Consequently, flight AI170 from London Gatwick to Amritsar of 17 June stands cancelled,” it said.

An Air India Boeing-777 aircraft from San Francisco to Mumbai flight was grounded at Kolkata airport, where it stops for refuelling on Tuesday. The passengers were deplaned after a suspected technical snag. Consequently, Air India's Mumbai-San Francisco flight was also cancelled.

This comes a day after Air India’s Hong Kong-Delhi flight, AI 315, returned to Hong Kong following a technical snag.

Jyoti Mayal, chairperson of Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) & Immediate Past President of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), said that the frequent cancellations of Air India's international flights are causing significant disruptions to travellers' plans, resulting in missed events, business meetings, and connecting flights.

"This situation is inconvenient and potentially costly for passengers who may have to spend extra on rebooking fees, accommodation, and other expenses," said Mayal.

To minimise disruptions, Mayal said passengers can take proactive steps such as regularly checking flight status, contacting Air India's customer support for assistance, and considering alternative flights or travel arrangements. It's also essential for passengers to understand their rights and entitlements under Air India's policies and relevant aviation regulations. "In the long term, Air India may need to focus on improving its operational efficiency, investing in better maintenance infrastructure, and enhancing its customer support services to prevent such disruptions and provide a smoother travel experience for its passengers," Mayal added.