NEW DELHI: Air India on Tuesday cancelled six international flights, citing a combination of operational reasons and precautionary aircraft inspections initiated by India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Earlier in the day, the Ahmedabad-London Gatwick flight (AI159) was also cancelled due to the “non-availability of aircraft,” the airline said. It clarified that the decision stemmed from airspace restrictions and additional precautionary checks, not due to any technical issue, as speculated. “The longer-than-usual turnaround of aircraft is a result of enhanced inspections and not a snag,” an Air India spokesperson stated. The cancellations come amid a wider DGCA-directed check of the entire Air India fleet, following recent incidents. Air India currently operates Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft for its UK and Europe routes. The Delhi-Paris flight (AI143) was called off after pre-flight checks revealed an issue. With Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport enforcing night flight restrictions, the flight could not be rescheduled. In another instance, a San Francisco-Mumbai flight was delayed and grounded after landing when routine inspection raised safety concerns. Meanwhile, a Delhi-Ranchi Air India Express flight returned shortly after takeoff on Monday due to a suspected technical issue. The aircraft was cleared for operations after inspection. Air India said it regrets the inconvenience caused and reiterated its commitment to passenger safety and regulatory compliance.
