Travel chaos: 20 Air India flights cancelled today - Dubai, Europe routes affected

Dubai: A total of 20 Air India flights were cancelled on Thursday, affecting both international and domestic routes. According to FlightAware data, the cancellations included long-haul services to Dubai, Europe, and Asia, along with several key domestic connections between Indian cities.

The affected routes span a wide network, disrupting travel plans for passengers flying to and from major hubs.

Domestic routes were also heavily impacted, with cancellations affecting flights between Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Pune, Amritsar, Indore, Kolkata, Coimbatore, and Vadodara.

As the crisis continues, Air India has announced a 15% reduction in international widebody services, citing both the crash and rising geopolitical tensions. The cuts, which mainly impact flights operated by Boeing 787s and 777s, will be implemented through June 20 and continue until at least mid-July, the airline said in a statement released Wednesday.

Air India cited several factors for the curtailment:

·         Instability in the Middle East

·         Night curfews in European and East Asian airspace

·         Ongoing safety checks on its Dreamliner fleet

The airline also confirmed that it would conduct one-time precautionary inspections of its Boeing 777 aircraft as part of heightened safety protocols.

Air India continues to face major disruptions following last week’s fatal Dreamliner crash, with India’s aviation regulator ordering enhanced safety inspections on its Boeing 787 fleet. The move has led to widespread delays, cancellations, and passenger concerns.

Compounding the issue are airspace restrictions in parts of the Middle East, further impacting domestic and international schedules. According to the DGCA, 83 widebody flights have been cancelled since the crash — 66 of them Dreamliners.

So far, 26 of 33 Boeing 787s have been inspected and cleared to fly. One-time checks on Boeing 777s are also underway as a precaution.

The crash of Flight AI171, which killed over 270 people in Ahmedabad, is still under investigation. The second black box was recently recovered. It marks the worst civil aviation disaster in over a decade.

The DGCA has found no major safety issues in inspections so far. Maintenance systems have been deemed compliant with regulations.

Despite the setback, experts view this crisis as temporary. Since Tata Sons acquired Air India in 2022, the airline has:

·         Placed large aircraft orders

·         Launched a new brand identity

·         Begun fleet upgrades and expanded training programs

Former executive Jitender Bhargava said: “If you ask me whether the accident will derail the ambitious growth plans — no way. There can be no looking back.”