Air India successfully operated a special flight to bring back more than 250 passengers who were stranded in Milan due to a technical issue with their original flight. The rescue operation highlights the airline's commitment to passenger welfare and its ability to respond swiftly to unexpected challenges.

Flight Details

Incident Overview

The original flight AI138 was cancelled on October 17 due to technical issues with the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. This unexpected cancellation left over 250 passengers stranded in Milan, causing significant inconvenience and leading to complaints about inadequate facilities. Many passengers were particularly distressed about missing Diwali celebrations due to the delay.

Air India's Response

Air India demonstrated prompt action in addressing the situation:

• Expedited aircraft repairs
• Secured approvals for an additional commercial flight
• Offered affected passengers two options:
  1. Maintain existing rebookings on other airlines
  2. Switch to the special rescue flight (AI138D)

Special Considerations

Air India showed particular attention to individual passenger needs. In one notable case, a passenger with a Schengen visa expiring on October 20 was rebooked on another airline's October 19 departure to ensure visa compliance.

Conclusion

This incident underscores the importance of airlines having contingency plans for unexpected technical issues. Air India's swift response in arranging a special flight demonstrates the airline's commitment to passenger service and its ability to manage complex logistical challenges in international operations.

Air India, the flag carrier airline of India, is in discussions with Airbus and Boeing for a potential order of up to 300 aircraft, including 80 to 100 new wide-body jets. This represents an increase from previous talks involving 230 aircraft. Alongside these procurement discussions, the airline has announced a significant expansion of its flight network, introducing 174 new weekly flights for both domestic and international short-haul routes. This expansion is set to commence with the Northern Winter Schedule beginning October 26, 2025.

International Route Enhancements

Air India is boosting its international connectivity with increased frequencies on key routes:

Domestic Expansion

The airline is introducing seasonal flights on several domestic routes:

• Delhi-Jaipur (New)
• Delhi-Jaisalmer (New)
• Delhi-Udaipur
• Mumbai-Jaipur
• Mumbai-Udaipur
• Mumbai-Jodhpur

Additionally, Air India will increase flight frequencies from Mumbai and Delhi to several cities starting October 26, 2025:

• Bhopal
• Indore
• Bhuj
• Rajkot

Increased Frequencies on Popular Routes

Air India is also enhancing its service on multiple existing routes:

• Delhi-Varanasi
• Delhi-Raipur
• Delhi-Port Blair
• Mumbai-Dehradun
• Mumbai-Patna
• Mumbai-Amritsar

Air India Express at Navi Mumbai International Airport

As part of the Air India Group's expansion, Air India Express will commence operations from the new Navi Mumbai International Airport:

This significant expansion by Air India demonstrates the airline's commitment to enhancing both domestic and international connectivity. The introduction of new routes and increased frequencies on existing ones is likely to benefit travelers with more options and improved connectivity. The phased expansion at Navi Mumbai International Airport also indicates Air India's strategic focus on capturing market share in this new aviation hub.

The ongoing discussions for a large aircraft order further underscore Air India's ambitious growth plans and its intention to modernize and expand its fleet to meet increasing demand and compete effectively in the global aviation market.