Crisis of Confidence

Air India, once the crown jewel of Indian aviation, finds itself in the throes of an unrelenting operational and reputational crisis.

- 

The cancellation of six major international flights on Tuesday — connecting India to London, Paris, Vienna, Dubai, and San Francisco — is the latest episode in a saga of compounding troubles.

The immediate reasons for these disruptions may range from pre-flight technical anomalies and aircraft unavailability to airspace restrictions due to ongoing geopolitical tensions.

But beneath these surface explanations lies a deeper malaise, one rooted in systemic inefficiencies, a reactive safety culture, and inadequate crisis preparedness.

These cancellations follow closely on the heels of a catastrophic crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, involving Air India Flight AI-171, which claimed over 270 lives.

In the days since, the airline has struggled to maintain basic service continuity, with precautionary inspections of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet triggering more flight disruptions and compounding passenger anxiety.

The chaos is not limited to flight cancellations alone.

A recent technical snag forced the termination of a San Francisco-Mumbai flight in Kolkata, where passengers — already fatigued after a transcontinental journey — were made to disembark in the middle of the night and wait for hours with minimal clarity or support.