The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has disclosed that Air India canceled a total of 83 wide-body flights during the period from June 12 to June 17, 2025, with 66 of these cancellations involving the airline’s fleet of Boeing 787 aircraft. This announcement comes amid growing scrutiny of Air India’s operational reliability, particularly following a recent fatal crash and various service disruptions that have affected passengers.
The cancellations were reported to stem from multiple factors, including prolonged turnaround times for certain aircraft undergoing precautionary inspections, ongoing maintenance issues with several planes, and airspace restrictions within West Asia. These challenges have disproportionately impacted the airline’s international services that utilize the Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 models.
Of Air India’s fleet of 33 Boeing 787 aircraft, as of June 17, 24 had successfully completed their mandatory safety inspections. Meanwhile, the remaining nine aircraft are either undergoing extensive maintenance processes or are still pending necessary clearances to return to service.
In response to the operational challenges, the DGCA has intensified its safety surveillance of Air India’s fleet. While the regulator reported no significant safety concerns during its inspections, it has urged Air India to enhance interdepartmental coordination and accelerate the procurement of spare parts to mitigate future disruptions for travelers.
As the airline makes efforts to reinstigate regular flight operations, it cautions that delays and cancellations may continue in the near term as the necessary maintenance and compliance protocols are navigated.
