Air India Cancels 83 Wide-Body Flights Amid Operational Challenges: DGCA Report
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has revealed that Air India cancelled 83 wide-body flights from June 12 to June 17, 2025, up until 6 PM. Of these, 66 cancellations involved Boeing 787 aircraft. This announcement comes as Air India is under significant scrutiny due to a recent fatal crash and ongoing service disruptions.
The cancellations were caused by multiple factors, including prolonged turnaround times for aircraft undergoing precautionary checks, ongoing maintenance work on several planes, and airspace restrictions over West Asia. These issues have significantly affected the airline's international routes, which are primarily served by its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft fleet.
Among Air India's fleet of 33 Boeing 787 aircraft, 24 have completed their mandatory safety inspections as of June 17. The remaining nine aircraft are either still undergoing heavy maintenance or are waiting for approval to return to service.
The DGCA has increased its safety oversight of the fleet but reported no significant safety issues during its inspections. Nevertheless, the regulator has instructed Air India to enhance interdepartmental communication and speed up the procurement of spare parts to reduce further passenger disruptions.
The airline is striving to return to regular operations; however, delays and cancellations may continue in the short term as maintenance and regulatory processes are addressed.
