Air India cancels eight flights as post-crash safety checks hit operations across major domestic and international routes
Air India continues to cancel both domestic and international flights following the June 12 Dreamliner crash. With DGCA safety inspections ongoing, a wider operational strain is emerging as dozens of aircraft face checks or remain grounded in key hubs.
Air India cancelled at least eight more flights on Friday, citing ongoing maintenance and operational checks. These continued disruptions come after the June 12 Ahmedabad每London Gatwick Dreamliner crash that left 271 dead, including more than 30 people on the ground. The airline remains under increased scrutiny, as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) intensifies safety checks across the Boeing 787 fleet.
Affected routes on June 20
Friday＊s cancellations included both international and domestic routes. Among the international flights called off were AI906 (Dubai每Chennai), AI308 (Delhi每Melbourne), AI309 (Melbourne每Delhi), and AI2204 (Dubai每Hyderabad). On the domestic side, the affected flights included AI874 (Pune每Delhi), AI456 (Ahmedabad每Delhi), and AI2872 (Hyderabad每Mumbai).
These cancellations follow a week of similar disruptions, most notably on Tuesday, when 13 Dreamliner-operated flights were grounded. This included AI-159, the revised flight number for the Ahmedabad每London route previously listed as AI-171. That aircraft was expected to resume services but remained grounded due to aircraft unavailability.
Air India crash | Credit: X
DGCA oversight and safety status
The DGCA has ordered detailed safety reviews of Air India＊s Dreamliner aircraft. As per updates shared on June 18, 24 of the 33 Boeing 787s in Air India＊s fleet had undergone safety inspections. Two aircraft are currently listed as AOG (Aircraft on Ground) at Delhi Airport due to maintenance requirements.
Since the crash, a total of 66 Dreamliner flights have been cancelled. On the day of the incident alone, six Dreamliner-operated services were halted. The regulatory body continues to schedule more aircraft for inspection in the coming days as the situation evolves.
Operational challenges continue
Air India＊s flight cancellations reflect a broader challenge in managing safety demands and maintaining operational continuity. As maintenance and checks proceed, the airline is working to stabilise its schedules and address logistical pressures across its domestic and international network.
With safety checks still ongoing, Air India faces growing disruptions as it balances regulatory demands with maintaining essential flight services.
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Nancy Jaiswal is a journalist who started her career in reporting and has covered both hard and soft news. From serious city news developments to lighthearted lifestyle pieces, she has written on almost everything hapenning in India (except maybe alien invasions〞yet!). For her, writing isn＊t just work; it＊s a passion, an obsession, and sometimes the reason she forgets to reply to texts.
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