Air India, Other Airlines Suspend International Flights To London, Dubai And San Francisco—Here's Why

On June 17, 2025, Air India announced the cancellation of several international flights, leaving passengers across key global routes stranded or rescheduled. Flights on routes such as Ahmedabad to London, Delhi to Paris, London to Amritsar, and Mumbai to San Francisco were among those affected.

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), five cancelled Air India flights involved Boeing 787 aircraft. The aviation regulator has reportedly advised the airline to take steps to reduce delays caused by maintenance issues.

In response, Air India attributed the disruptions to a mix of technical problems and external factors, such as weather. It said it had made alternative arrangements for affected passengers—including rebookings and full refunds.

These developments come amid heightened caution in the aviation sector following a tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad last week, which killed 241 people on board and caused casualties on the ground. While investigations continue, airlines appear to prioritise preventive safety checks, which may contribute to the growing number of delays and cancellations.

Globally, several airlines have also faced operational disruptions in recent days. British Airways was forced to return a Boeing 787 Dreamliner (Flight BA35) to London Heathrow just over an hour after takeoff due to a “technical issue” en route to Chennai. Lufthansa and IndiGo have also cancelled or diverted flights over adverse weather conditions and technical alerts.

Multiple Airlines Cancel Flight Operations

An IndiGo flight from Goa to Lucknow on June 16 encountered mid-air turbulence but landed safely. On June 17, another IndiGo flight (6E 2706) flying from Kochi to Delhi had to make an emergency landing in Nagpur after a bomb threat.

With multiple carriers taking precautions amid safety concerns, especially involving the Boeing 787 fleet and unpredictable weather, the aviation industry is on high alert. Passengers are advised to check flight status in advance and remain prepared for last-minute schedule changes.

(With inputs from multiple reports)