Article Body
GalaxyFounder.com | June 17, 2025 — Ahmedabad
In a sudden turn of events that disrupted international travel plans for scores of passengers, Air India abruptly cancelled flight AI-159, which was scheduled to depart from Ahmedabad to London Heathrow on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 17, 2025. The airline attributed the cancellation to "operational issues," but offered few details beyond that.
The decision, made just hours before takeoff, caught travelers off guard, many of whom had already arrived at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport with international itineraries and tight schedules.
“There was no advance notice. We arrived expecting a routine check-in and were instead told that our flight had been cancelled. There was no Plan B,” said Neel Patel, a London-bound student from Anand.
Behind the Scenes: A Struggling Fleet and a Crisis of Coordination
While the official reason remains vague, GalaxyFounder sources within the aviation industry suggest that the cancellation may be linked to ongoing fallout from AI-171, another Air India flight on the same route that was reportedly grounded following an emergency technical situation last week.
AI-159 was introduced as a temporary replacement for AI-171, but insiders say the aircraft allocated for Tuesday's journey was ultimately deemed unfit for service following last-minute inspections.
“This is not a one-off issue. Air India is struggling with fleet availability and technical clearances post the recent crisis. We were expecting AI-159 to fly only if safety checks cleared it — apparently they didn’t,” said a senior ground operations manager, requesting anonymity.
Ripple Effect: Passengers Left Without Rebooking, Communication Lacking
According to several passengers interviewed by GalaxyFounder.com, no rebooking options or clear refund procedures were provided at the airport immediately after the cancellation.
“I had booked this ticket weeks ago for my visa interview in the UK. Now there are no direct seats available, and I don’t even know if I’ll be refunded in full,” said Ayesha Shaikh, a 32-year-old entrepreneur from Vadodara.
Several passengers reported that they received SMS updates after they were already at the airport, while others said the only information came through informal airport announcements or the website’s flight status board.
No Official Statement from Air India Headquarters
Despite the media attention, Air India has not issued an official public press release detailing the root cause of the cancellation, or how it plans to accommodate the affected passengers.
A short note on the airline’s booking portal simply read:
"Flight AI-159 from Ahmedabad to London for June 17 has been cancelled due to operational issues. We regret the inconvenience caused."
Air India’s social media handles remained silent on the matter at the time of publication.
Mounting Pressure on the Tata-Owned Carrier
This latest incident adds to a growing list of public scrutiny moments for Air India since its high-profile acquisition by the Tata Group. While the airline has pledged billions to revamp its fleet and operations — including orders for over 470 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing — the transition has been anything but smooth.
“Ambition is high, but execution is where things are slipping. You can’t offer international luxury without basic operational dependability,” said aviation analyst Charu Menon.
What Happens Now?
-
Passengers are advised to contact Air India customer support directly through official helplines or via their travel booking agency.
-
No alternate flight for AI-159 has been announced as of Tuesday evening.
-
Many travelers are now being rerouted through Delhi or Mumbai to catch connecting flights to the UK.
-
Consumer rights activists have called on the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to investigate the growing number of unexplained cancellations.
Conclusion: Trust Tested, Reputation on the Line
The sudden cancellation of AI-159 not only inconvenienced hundreds of travelers but also spotlighted the cracks in Air India’s still-rebuilding infrastructure. As global travel rebounds and competition intensifies, national carriers like Air India must balance ambition with reliability — and above all, communicate clearly with their passengers.
For now, passengers — and the public — are left with questions.