Air India Cancels 60 US Flights Amid Aircraft Maintenance Issues

Tata-owned Air India has announced the cancellation of around 60 flights to the United States between November 15 and December 31, 2024, as peak winter travel ramps up. The cancellations stem from a shortage of aircraft due to maintenance challenges and supply chain constraints, which have impacted the airline’s wide-body fleet, including the Boeing 777 and 787 models.

The affected flights cover routes to major U.S. destinations, including San Francisco, Washington, Chicago, Newark, and New York. The breakdown of impacted flights is as follows:

Delhi-Chicago: 14 flights canceled

Delhi-Washington: 28 flights canceled

Delhi-San Francisco: 12 flights canceled

Mumbai-New York: 4 flights canceled

Delhi-Newark: 2 flights canceled

To reduce disruption, Air India has proactively informed affected passengers, offering rebookings on other Air India group flights, free date changes, or full refunds. The airline aims to improve its service consistency following recent delays and technical difficulties impacting its US-bound operations.

An Air India spokesperson expressed regret over the situation, citing delayed aircraft returns from heavy maintenance as well as parts supply challenges that have temporarily reduced operational capacity. Air India assured it is actively addressing maintenance issues to prevent further disruptions and accommodate affected travelers.

Despite these setbacks, Air India’s network remains extensive, currently operating:

5 flights per week between Delhi and Washington

7 flights per week between Delhi and New York’s JFK

7 flights per week from Mumbai to JFK

7 flights per week between Delhi and Chicago

Daily flights to San Francisco from Delhi, and regular services from Mumbai and Bangalore.

The airline recently announced an expanded Winter 2024 international schedule with plans to bolster its U.S. operations once its fleet maintenance stabilizes.

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