Overview

• Air India cancelled AI349 from Singapore to Chennai on August 3 due to a maintenance issue that required extra rectification time before departure.
• Later that day, the airline also called off AI500 from Bhubaneswar to Delhi after a cabin-temperature fault made conditions unsafe on the tarmac.
• These back-to-back cancellations highlight ongoing reliability challenges following a wave of technical diversions, aborted takeoffs and service cuts in recent weeks.
• DGCA audits have since flagged more than 100 operational violations, including critical Level-1 breaches, triggering heightened regulatory scrutiny of the carrier’s Boeing 787 fleet.
• Air India is offering affected passengers hotel accommodations, full refunds and complimentary rescheduling as it works to restore normal operations.