Latest news with #AI153
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
9 hours ago
- Business Standard
Air India cancels, delays global flights amid safety inspections, audits
Several of Air India's international flights faced cancellations or delays on Tuesday, primarily due to its B787 aircraft undergoing mandatory safety inspections ordered by India's aviation regulator in the wake of last week's deadly crash of flight AI171 in Ahmedabad. However, operational stress was compounded by weather-related disruptions, airspace restrictions and crew duty-time limitations, all of which added further strain to the airline's widebody network. The crash, which killed 241 passengers and crew and at least 24 people on the ground last Thursday, prompted the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to mandate an immediate 'enhanced safety inspection' of Air India's entire Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, comprising 34 aircraft. Though the bulk of these inspections were completed by Tuesday, their impact continued to reverberate across the airline's operations. 'It's not that every cancellation is due to the safety inspections, but there's no denying that the fleet-wide checks have strained availability and turnaround times,' a senior Air India official said. On Tuesday, Air India cancelled flight AI143 from Delhi to Paris after its pre-flight checks identified an issue. '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,' the airline said. The return flight from Paris to Delhi on 18 June was also cancelled as a result. Flight AI159 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick was cancelled due to longer-than-usual turnaround times. In a separate statement, the airline clarified: 'Flight AI159 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick has been cancelled today due to the unavailability of the aircraft, resulting from airspace restrictions and additional precautionary checks, and not due to any technical snag as claimed.' Air India added that it had arranged alternative travel, hotel stays and full refunds or rescheduling for passengers. Other affected services on Tuesday included cancellations of AI153 (Delhi–Vienna), AI133 (Bengaluru–London) and AI915 (Delhi–Dubai). AI145 (Goa–London) faced a delay of over 90 minutes, while AI148 (Paris–Delhi) and AI2026 (Frankfurt–Delhi) were delayed by about two hours each. The Sydney–Delhi flight (AI301) departed more than two and a half hours behind schedule. Domestically, flight AI424 from Ahmedabad to Delhi was delayed by over five hours. The ripple effect has extended to scheduled services for Wednesday, with AI169 (Amritsar–London Gatwick), AI151 (Delhi–Zurich) and AI308 (Delhi–Melbourne) all cancelled. According to another Air India official, the inspection process itself was taking time. 'If the checks find anything even slightly off, rectification has to happen then and there, and that takes additional time,' the person said. Further complications arose when such delays caused flight crews to exceed Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), which are a set of mandatory limits on how many hours pilots and cabin crew can be on duty or fly within a given period, designed to ensure they are adequately rested. If a crew runs out of FDTL hours, the flight must be delayed or cancelled unless a replacement crew is available. Unfavourable weather in several parts of the country, including Delhi, as well as ongoing airspace restrictions over Pakistan and parts of the Middle East amid the Israel–Iran conflict, further narrowed operational flexibility on Tuesday. Air India did not issue an official statement to Business Standard on this matter.
Mint
10 hours ago
- Mint
Air India cancels seven international flights within 24 hours, days after Ahmedabad plane crash
Air India Plane Crash Aftermath: On 17 June 2025, Air India announced the cancellation of several key international flights, affecting passengers across various routes. The Air India cancellations follow operational issues and precautionary measures mandated by MoCA after the recent Ahmedabad plane crash that killed 241 passengers and crew. Air India flight AI-159 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick was cancelled due to the unavailability of the aircraft. The airline cited airspace restrictions and additional precautionary checks as reasons, emphasising that the cancellation was not due to any technical fault. This cancellation also led to the subsequent cancellation of flight AI-170 from London Gatwick to Amritsar on the same day. Following the Ahmedabad-London cancellation, the London Gatwick to Amritsar flight AI-170 was also cancelled on 17 June. This disruption impacted many passengers travelling between the UK and northern India. Air India's Delhi to Paris flight AI-143 was cancelled after mandatory pre-flight checks revealed a hydraulic issue. Due to night operation restrictions at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, the flight could not be delayed and was cancelled. Consequently, the return flight AI-142 from Paris to Delhi on 18 June was also cancelled. The airline is providing alternative arrangements and hotel accommodation to affected passengers. On 17 June 2025, Air India reportedly cancelled flight AI 915 from Delhi to Dubai amid ongoing operational disruptions following the recent Ahmedabad crash. This cancellation marks the sixth Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight grounded that day as the airline conducts rigorous post-crash safety checks. Official confirmation is awaited, but media reports indicate the aircraft developed technical issues during pre-flight inspections, prompting the cancellation. Similarly, flight AI 153 from Delhi to Vienna is believed to have been cancelled on the same day, though the airline has yet to officially confirm this. Like other affected flights, this cancellation is likely linked to precautionary measures and maintenance checks on the Dreamliner fleet. Air India also cancelled its Bengaluru to London and Mumbai to San Francisco flights on 17 June. The Air India Mumbai-San Francisco flight was terminated at Kolkata due to a suspected technical snag, prompting passengers to deplane and causing disruption at the airport. Air India's Bengaluru to London flight was cancelled on 17 June 2025, adding to the growing list of international flight disruptions faced by the airline in the wake of recent operational challenges. While detailed official reasons for this specific cancellation have not been extensively disclosed, it is understood to be part of the wider impact of technical and logistical issues affecting Air India's fleet, particularly involving Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. Air India has offered full refunds to passengers affected by the cancellations on 17 June. The airline informed that travellers can request refunds through the airline's official website under the 'Manage Booking' section or by contacting Air India's reservation offices. Refunds will be credited to the original payment method, and the airline has assured passengers that cancellation charges will be waived given the exceptional circumstances. Additionally, Air India is providing flexible rebooking options and a one-time waiver on rescheduling fees to ease the inconvenience caused by these disruptions. Passengers who booked through travel agents or third-party platforms have been advised to reach out directly to their respective agents for refund assistance.
