Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 3: Air India on Friday rejected reports suggesting that 11 of its 26 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft are grounded, saying the claims are misleading and fail to distinguish between aircraft undergoing planned maintenance and those that are actually out of service.
In a statement posted on X, the Tata Group-owned carrier clarified that several aircraft cited in social media reports are undergoing scheduled maintenance or fleet upgrades as part of normal operational planning and should not be described as "grounded."
The airline said three Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners are currently undergoing cabin retrofits under its fleet modernisation programme, while four others are undergoing scheduled heavy maintenance checks.
It added that one aircraft is undergoing routine line maintenance, another is scheduled to return to India, and two aircraft are currently operating normally.
"Planned maintenance or upgrades are not the same as 'grounded aircraft'," Air India said, urging passengers to rely only on official company communications for accurate information.
The clarification followed a series of social media posts alleging that several Air India Dreamliners had become aircraft-on-ground (AOG) at airports in Europe.
One account, AviationAll, claimed that three Boeing 787-8 aircraft—registered as VT-ANU in Amsterdam, VT-ANP at London Gatwick and VT-ANG at London Heathrow—were out of service, although it acknowledged that the reasons for their status were not known.
Responding to these reports, Air India reiterated that aircraft undergoing scheduled maintenance, cabin refurbishment or routine engineering checks remain part of normal airline operations and should not be categorised as grounded.
The airline also denied suggestions that nearly half of its Boeing 787-8 fleet was unavailable for commercial operations.
In a separate announcement, Air India said it has reduced fuel surcharges on select international routes, offering some relief to passengers travelling overseas.
The carrier said the fuel surcharge on flights to North America and Australia has been cut from $280 to $200, while passengers flying to European destinations will now pay $125, down from $205.
According to the airline, the revised surcharge is expected to lower overall travel costs for customers on these international sectors.