Air India Faces Multiple Flight Cancellations on June 17, 2025

On Tuesday, June 17, 2025, Air India experienced significant disruptions, with several flights grounded for reasons unrelated to the ongoing airspace restrictions in West Asia. The cancellations, affecting both domestic and international routes, dominated front-page headlines in major newspapers such as The Telegraph and The Times of India on June 18,2025. Below is a detailed account of the affected flights and the reasons behind their cancellations.

Affected Flights and Reasons for Cancellation

1. AI 143: Delhi to Paris (Dreamliner)
   The Delhi-Paris service was cancelled following a mandatory pre-flight check that identified issues with the aircraft. As a result, the return Paris-Delhi flight was also scrapped, leaving passengers stranded on both ends.
2. AI 159: Ahmedabad to London Gatwick (Dreamliner)
   This flight was cancelled due to the unavailability of the aircraft, causing significant inconvenience to passengers traveling to one of Air India’s key international destinations.
3. AI 174: San Francisco to Mumbai (Boeing 777-200 LR)
   A snag detected during refueling in Kolkata left this long-haul flight stranded, disrupting travel plans for passengers on this transcontinental route.
4. AI 915: Delhi to Dubai (Dreamliner)
   The cancellation of this popular short-haul flight was attributed to unspecified reasons, leaving travelers to seek alternative arrangements.
5. AI 153: Delhi to Vienna (Dreamliner)
   This flight was grounded without a disclosed reason, adding to the uncertainty faced by passengers bound for the Austrian capital.
6. AI 1970: London to Amritsar
   The cancellation of this flight was a direct consequence of the earlier grounding of AI 159 (Ahmedabad to London Gatwick), as the same aircraft was scheduled to operate the London-Amritsar route.
7. AI 133: Bengaluru to London
   This flight was cancelled due to unspecified reasons, further compounding Air India’s operational challenges on the day.

Impact and Public Response

The widespread cancellations sparked frustration among passengers, with many taking to social media to voice their concerns. The disruptions also drew significant media attention, with leading publications highlighting Air India’s operational challenges. The lack of transparency regarding the reasons for some cancellations fueled speculation and criticism, putting additional pressure on the airline to address the situation promptly.

Looking Ahead

Air India has yet to release an official statement detailing the steps being taken to prevent such disruptions in the future. As the airline works to restore normalcy, affected passengers are being rebooked on alternative flights or offered refunds, though the process has been met with mixed reviews.

The events of June 17, 2025, underscore the challenges faced by Air India in maintaining operational reliability amid technical and logistical hurdles. As the story continues to unfold, all eyes will be on the airline’s response and its efforts to regain passenger confidence.