In under two weeks, Air India's international operations plunged into chaos — a whirlwind of flight cancellations, crippling delays and safety scares. This crisis erupted in the wake of a recent crash that sparked rigorous fleet inspections, compounded by airspace closures over west Asia.
Yet, despite the turmoil, Air India aggressively slashed fares, undercutting rivals while risking operational reliability. The big question: Can the airline keep prices low without grounding passenger trust?
Pricing Battles Amid Disruptions
On key routes like Delhi–Dubai, Air India offered non-stop one-way fares between Rs 12,000 and Rs 14,000. While Gulf carriers Emirates, Etihad and FlyDubai priced slightly lower (Rs 9,500–11,000), Air India's fares remained competitive with low-cost peers such as IndiGo.
On longer-haul routes, Air India undercut legacy carriers significantly — Delhi–Paris at Rs 23,600–24,000 against Air France’s Rs 69,000–83,000; Delhi–London at Rs 32,000–35,000 versus British Airways and Virgin Atlantic’s Rs 38,000–57,000; and Delhi–New York at Rs 41,000–42,000 compared to American Airlines and United’s Rs 52,000–68,000.
Mid-Air Mayhem
The price advantage, however, came at a steep cost in operational reliability, causing severe distress for passengers.
Among the growing list of alarming incidents, the recent being on Monday when passengers aboard flight AI-130 began feeling unwell shortly after takeoff. It wasn't an isolated case — seven individuals, including five passengers and two crew members, reportedly experienced dizziness and nausea, according to sources.
Meanwhile, in another mid-air scare, Air India Express flight IX2564, flying from Delhi to Jammu, was forced to return shortly after takeoff due to suspected GPS interference near the capital.
Long-haul flight AI183 (Delhi–San Francisco) was delayed for over 30 hours due to a cooling system fault. Safety protocols led to the abrupt cancellation of AI159 (Ahmedabad–London), leaving passengers frustrated and uninformed. Similarly, AI106 (New York–Delhi) was cancelled on June 18 without any prior notification.
Even short-haul flights made passengers jittery. For instance, IX195 (Jaipur–Dubai) endured two aborted take-offs and were trapped onboard without air conditioning for over four hours before the flight was ultimately cancelled on June 24.
Bird strikes grounded flights AI2469 (Delhi–Pune) and AI2454 (Delhi–Thiruvananthapuram), while AI457 (Delhi–Hyderabad) was quietly cancelled after a grueling five-hour wait in the early morning hours.
Social media complaints highlighted poor communication, silent cancellations and lack of on-ground support.
Geopolitical Tensions
On June 23, Iranian missile attacks on a US base in Qatar led to temporary airspace closures over Qatar and the UAE. Air India suspended or diverted around a dozen flights and paused all west Asia, Europe and North America services for up to 36 hours.
AI103 (Delhi–New York) was diverted mid-flight back to Mumbai, alarming passengers and exposing the airline’s crisis communication shortcomings.
Air India's commitment to competitive international fares is clear, but the operational turbulence during this period highlights the risks of prioritising market share without matching service reliability.
The airline faces a crucial challenge: restoring passenger trust while navigating fleet safety, geopolitical pressures and customer expectations.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
India Says US Defense Ties Intact Despite Trump's 50% Tariffs
Aug 14, 2025
'Saved By Luck,' Congress Leader KC Venugopal Says As Delhi-Bound Air India Flight Diverted After Snag
Aug 11, 2025
Air India's Boeing 787-9 Plane Aborts Takeoff At Delhi Airport Due To Technical Issue
Jul 31, 2025
Air India Plane's Auxiliary Power Unit Catches Fire After Landing At Delhi Airport
Jul 22, 2025
POPULAR