Air India London to Delhi Flight with 787 Delayed by 11 Hours

dailyblitz.de 9 hours ago

LONDON- Tata Group-owned Air India (AI) flight AI2018 from London Heathrow (LHR) to Delhi (DEL) was delayed by over 11 hours on August 1, 2025.

Passengers were offered full refunds or free rescheduling, with hotel stays and refreshments arranged during the delay.

Air India Flight Delayed 11 Hours

Air India’s (AI) scheduled flight AI 2018, operating from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi (DEL), was significantly delayed on August 1.

The aircraft, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, was initially set to depart at 20:35 local time but was rescheduled for 08:00 on August 2 due to operational limitations.

According to Air India, the delay resulted from the late arrival of the incoming aircraft, combined with mandatory crew duty time limits and night curfew regulations at London Heathrow.

The airline issued an official statement confirming the revised departure and the measures taken to assist passengers.

Air India proactively addressed passenger concerns by providing multiple compensation and support options. Affected travelers were given the choice between full ticket refunds or complimentary rescheduling for future travel.

To mitigate the impact of the overnight delay, Air India arranged hotel accommodations and refreshments for passengers in London. Airline representatives were present at the airport to provide updates and coordinate support, aiming to reduce inconvenience.

Preceding Technical Incident

This disruption follows a related incident on July 31 involving the outbound flight AI 2017 from Delhi (DEL) to London (LHR).

The Dreamliner aircraft aborted takeoff due to a suspected technical issue. As a precaution, the cockpit crew halted the takeoff run and returned the aircraft to the bay for detailed checks.

Air India deployed an alternate Dreamliner to operate the AI 2017 service later the same day, ensuring onward connectivity to London despite the earlier setback.

Operational Factors

The 11-hour delay was attributed to cascading operational challenges. The late incoming aircraft affected the duty timelines of the crew, invoking aviation safety protocols.

Additionally, night curfew rules at London Heathrow Airport prevented any departure during restricted hours.

Air India emphasized adherence to international safety norms, particularly the flight duty time limitation (FDTL) policy, which safeguards crew alertness and performance.