Air India has cancelled 83 of its wide-body aircraft flights between June 12 and June 17, with 66 of these involving Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced on June 17, 2025, Tuesday.

The cancellations come as the national regulator intensifies its oversight of the airline’s operations, particularly in light of disruptions caused by regional airspace restrictions.

The DGCA held a high-level meeting with senior officials from both Air India Ltd. and Air India Express to address the situation.

The two carriers jointly operate more than 1,000 flights daily across domestic and international sectors. The discussions focused on seven key areas aimed at reinforcing regulatory compliance and bolstering operational dependability.

A significant part of the review addressed the impact of recent airspace closures, especially over Iran, which have contributed to delays, diversions, and cancellations.

“Operators have been instructed to improve communication with passengers and crew, and to explore alternative routes to mitigate service disruptions,” the DGCA said in a statement.

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The regulator further reminded airlines of their duty under Civil Aviation Requirements to inform passengers about delays or cancellations well in advance.

In addition, the DGCA’s surveillance of Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet found no major safety issues.

“The aircraft and maintenance protocols meet current safety standards,” the authority stated.

However, Air India has been directed to conduct an ‘Enhanced Safety Inspection’ across its entire fleet of 33 Boeing 787 aircraft.

According to the regulator, 24 aircraft have already completed these inspections as of 3 PM on June 17, with two more checks expected to finish by the end of the day.

One additional aircraft is scheduled for inspection tomorrow. Of the remaining six aircraft, two are grounded in Delhi and will undergo inspection once cleared for serviceability, while the last four—currently in maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities—will be inspected before returning to service.

The DGCA underscored the importance of timely passenger facilitation and urged operators to leverage all communication channels to keep travellers informed.

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