Air India Cancels Eight Flights Citing Maintenance and Operational Issues
Air India announced the cancellation of eight flights on Friday, comprising four international and four domestic services, due to enhanced maintenance and operational reasons. Affected international routes include services between Dubai-Chennai and Delhi-Melbourne. The airline stated it is making alternative arrangements for passengers and offering full refunds or complimentary rescheduling. Domestic cancellations impacted routes including Pune-Delhi and Chennai-Mumbai.
Unpacked:
The cancellations are due to enhanced maintenance and operational reasons, following the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171. The airline is undertaking increased pre-flight safety checks and managing longer flight durations caused by airspace restrictions, leading to a 15% reduction in international services on some aircraft until at least mid-July 2025.
Air India is providing affected passengers with full refunds or complimentary rescheduling. The airline is also working to make alternative travel arrangements for those impacted by the cancellations.
The reduction in international services is expected to last until at least 15 July 2025. This timeframe may change depending on the progress of safety checks and operational adjustments following the recent accident and airspace issues.
Passengers will experience fewer direct flights and some schedule changes, especially on key international routes. Air India’s operational capacity is temporarily reduced as it prioritizes safety and compliance. The airline aims to restore schedule stability and minimize last-minute inconvenience for travelers.