Dreamliner glitch leads Air India to operate extra flight from Milan

Air India on Sunday announced that it will operate a special flight from Milan to Delhi to accommodate passengers stranded in the Italian city after the airline had to cancel its regular flight AI138 on Friday due to a technical issue with its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft.

The cancellation affected more than 250 passengers, many of whom took to social media to express frustration over inadequate facilities and concerns about missing the Diwali celebrations back home.

To ensure affected passengers could return to India in time for the festive season, Air India expedited rectification work on the aircraft in Milan and obtained the necessary approvals to operate an additional commercial flight, AI138D. The special flight is scheduled to depart Milan at 19:00 local time on Sunday and is expected to arrive in Delhi on Monday morning, October 20.

In an official statement, the airline said, _“To ensure that the affected passengers can return home to India in time for the festive occasion, our teams expedited the rectification process on the aircraft at Milan and secured the necessary approvals to operate an additional commercial flight.”_

Air India also highlighted that its teams are proactively reaching out to the affected passengers, who had previously been rebooked on alternative flights with post-Diwali arrivals. Passengers are being offered the option to maintain their existing bookings or switch to the additional flight operating today.

The airline had earlier stated that passengers impacted by the cancellation had been rebooked on flights departing on or after October 20, including options with other airlines, depending on seat availability. Air India also accommodated passengers with specific travel constraints, such as one passenger whose Schengen visa expires on October 20, who was rebooked on another airline’s flight departing Milan on October 19 to comply with visa regulations.

The Friday cancellation drew attention to the operational challenges faced by airlines, particularly when technical issues with aircraft like the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner occur. However, the swift organization of the special flight demonstrates Air India’s efforts to prioritize passenger convenience during a major festive period.

With the Diwali season approaching, timely resolution of such disruptions is critical for passenger satisfaction and airline reputation. Air India’s initiative to operate a dedicated flight underscores the airline’s commitment to customer-centric solutions while navigating operational constraints.