Air India Cancels 60 US Flights in November-December Amid Aircraft Shortage

In an unexpected disruption for India-US travellers, Tata Group-owned Air India has cancelled approximately 60 flights scheduled between mid-November and the end of December.

The cancellations, attributed to maintenance issues and supply chain delays, affect key routes to popular US destinations including San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, New York, and Newark.

Peak Travel Season Disrupted

The cancellations come at a time when travel demand is typically high, particularly during the holiday season. The delays in aircraft return, compounded by supply chain challenges, have impacted Air India’s operations during a peak travel period.

Aircraft Shortages Disrupt India-US Routes

According to an airline, the decision to cancel flights arises from the non-availability of wide-body aircraft, as several planes are currently undergoing heavy maintenance. Air India’s spokesperson confirmed that the airline is working to mitigate the disruption but is facing “a temporary reduction in operating fleet.”

Impacted Flights and Routes

A detailed breakdown reveals that Air India has cancelled flights across several high-demand routes:

• Delhi to Chicago: 14 flights cancelled
• Delhi to Washington: 28 flights cancelled
• Delhi to San Francisco: 12 flights cancelled
• Mumbai to New York (JFK): 4 flights cancelled
• Delhi to Newark: 2 flights cancelled

Also Read: Air India, Singapore Airlines Expand Codeshare Network with 51 New Routes

Customer Support and Compensation Options

Air India has stated that affected passengers are being proactively informed and provided with multiple options to address their travel needs:

• Rebooking on Alternate Dates: Customers may reschedule on other Air India group flights operating on the same or adjacent days.
• Flexible Date Changes: Passengers are offered a free date change.
• Full Refunds: Customers can opt for a full refund if preferred.

“Air India sincerely regrets the inconvenience caused by this constraint beyond our control,” the spokesperson added, underscoring the airline’s commitment to accommodating affected passengers as best as possible.

Regular Service on Key India-US Routes

Despite these disruptions, Air India continues to operate regular flights on several India-US routes:

• Delhi to Washington: 5 flights weekly
• Delhi to New York (JFK): 7 flights weekly
• Mumbai to New York (JFK): 7 flights weekly
• Delhi to Chicago: 7 flights weekly

The airline also serves San Francisco from Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, offering a total of 11 flights per week, including daily services from Delhi.

Also Read: Vistara Aircrafts to Get New Flight Code After Merger With Air India on November 12

Air India’s Network to the US Remains Resilient

Air India’s commitment to its India-US network remains resilient despite these temporary cancellations. The airline continues to maintain robust weekly connections to US cities, with a focus on minimizing passenger inconvenience.

As travel demand remains high, especially during the holiday season, Air India is expected to implement further adjustments to maintain service continuity.

For travellers affected by these cancellations, Air India’s customer support teams are available to provide assistance, alternative arrangements, and compensation options.

(With Inputs from PTI)

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