Ahmedabad-London flight cancelled due to unavailability of plane: Air India

Consequently, flight AI-170 from London (Gatwick) to Amritsar on 17 June also stands cancelled

Passengers after their flight to London was cancelled due to "operational issues" (photo: PTI)
Passengers after their flight to London was cancelled due to "operational issues" (photo: PTI)
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NH Digital

Air India's flight to London from Ahmedabad, which has started operating with a new call sign post the 12 June crash of flight AI-171, was cancelled on Tuesday owing to unavailability of aircraft resulting from airspace curbs and additional precautionary checks, the airline said.

The Tata Group-owned airline denied claims that a technical snag led to the cancellation and maintained that it has made alternative arrangements to fly affected passengers to their destination, offering full refunds on cancellations or complimentary rescheduling if so desired.

Air India's official website confirmed that flight AI-159 from Ahmedabad to London's Gatwick airport stands cancelled after being rescheduled. The plane was scheduled to depart at 3.00 pm from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA).

"Flight AI-159 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick (London) has been cancelled today (Tuesday) due to the unavailability of the aircraft, resulting from airspace restrictions and additional precautionary checks, leading to longer than usual turnaround of aircraft, and not due to any technical snag as claimed," an AI spokesperson said.

"We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers and have made alternative arrangements to fly them to their destination. We are providing hotel accommodation and also offering full refunds on cancellations or complimentary rescheduling if opted by passengers," he stated.

Consequently, flight AI-170 from London (Gatwick) to Amritsar on 17 June also stands cancelled, the airline added.

Iran has closed its airspace due to its ongoing war with Israel, affecting flights headed to Europe and causing them to fly alternative routes.

AI's direct flight from Ahmedabad to London was earlier known by its assigned call sign 'AI-171'. Airport sources said the flight was suspended after the horrific crash which claimed 270 lives, including all but one passenger and 29 people on the ground.

It resumed operations from Monday (16 June), five days after the crash, with a new call sign, an airport official said.

The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 passengers and crew members on board crashed into a medical college complex in Ahmedabad moments after taking off from the airport at 1.39 pm on 12 June. While 241 persons on board the aircraft died, one passenger miraculously survived.

"After the crash, the airline had suspended flights from Ahmedabad to London. The airline resumed the service on Monday, but with a new flight code, AI-159," said the official.

He said the return flight, bearing the code AI-160, landed at SVPIA on Tuesday afternoon as per schedule.

As per the AI website, the first flight to London with the new code took off from Ahmedabad at 4.10 pm on Monday after a three-hour delay. The flight landed at Gatwick at 9.45 pm on Monday.

However, the second flight, which was supposed to take off at 1.10 pm on Tuesday, was rescheduled to leave at 3.00 pm, but was eventually cancelled, said the website.

With PTI inputs

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