NEW DELHI (Diya TV) — Air India canceled nine major international flights on Tuesday. The airline blamed safety checks, longer flight times, and maintenance issues for the disruption. Most of the grounded planes were Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, which form the core of Air India’s international fleet.
The cancellations come at a time when Air India faces pressure to maintain safety standards and improve flight reliability.
The canceled flights included services between London and Amritsar, Delhi and Dubai, and Mumbai and San Francisco. Other affected routes were Delhi to Paris and Vienna, and Bengaluru to London. A Dreamliner flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, now renamed AI 159, was also pulled from service.
The Mumbai–San Francisco flight was grounded after a technical issue surfaced during a stopover in Kolkata. The return flight to the United States was also canceled.
One Vienna–Delhi flight avoided cancellation because a Dreamliner was already parked at the Vienna airport, airline officials said.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s aviation authority, ordered a one-time safety inspection of all Dreamliner aircraft in the fleet. Air India owns 33 Dreamliners. Four are already out for long-term maintenance. Of the 29 remaining jets, at least 24 have completed the new safety checks.
The airline is operating with fewer planes as a result. This lack of backup aircraft makes it hard for the airline to recover from unexpected delays or breakdowns. An Air India official told The Times of India that even small issues can now force major schedule changes. “We’re stretched too thin,” the source said.
Ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel has closed the airspace across the region. Jordan has also restricted access. These changes have forced Air India to take longer routes on many westbound flights. The new paths can add up to an hour of flying time.
Longer flights affect both planes and crews. Pilots and cabin crew now reach their flight time limits sooner. This makes it harder to keep flights on schedule. Sources said the airline asked DGCA to ease duty rules to give staff more flexibility. So far, the aviation regulator has not responded to that request.
The airline is also dealing with the impact of a crash that occurred last week. On June 12, a Dreamliner flight from London to Ahmedabad crashed while landing. The incident was the worst single-aircraft disaster in India’s civil aviation history.
No official cause has been shared yet. Investigators are still examining the crash. However, the incident has put added pressure on Air India to ensure the safety of all aircraft in operation.
Air India has rapidly expanded its route network since joining the Tata Group. However, the airline has not been able to add new aircraft at the same pace. Global supply chain issues have slowed deliveries.
Because of this, the airline has little room to deal with sudden problems. If even one aircraft has a technical fault or needs an inspection, schedules can fall apart quickly. Aviation industry experts say Air India needs more spare aircraft and better planning to avoid repeated disruptions. The airline has placed orders for new planes, but many are still months away from delivery.
Air India’s recent cancellations show the risks of running a tight schedule with few backup options. Safety remains the top priority, especially after the recent crash. But with longer routes and aircraft shortages, the airline faces a tough challenge. Travelers should check their flight status before heading to the airport. Air India has said it will continue working to restore normal service.
