INDIA’S state-owned airline, Air India, yesterday (14) suspended its Birmingham Airport flights citing operational reasons with effect from tomorrow (16).
The suspended air services include: AI113 Delhi-Birmingham; AI114 Birmingham-Delhi; AI117 Delhi-Amritsar-Birmingham; and AI118 Birmingham-Amritsar-Delhi.
The airline added that its Madrid flights were also suspended.
Air India had six flights to Birmingham a week before the changes in the schedule.
“Due to operational reasons the following Air India Flights are suspended w.e.f 16th March 2019 till further notice. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to our valued passengers and request passengers to collect full refund,” Air India tweeted.
Birmingham Airport described the latest move of the airline as “disappointing” and said it was trying to restore the schedule.
The change four regular air services is due to the closure to Pakistan airspace, according to the airline.
Pakistan restricted its airspace after air strikes by the Indian Air Force.
UK and Europe regional manager Debashis Golder said: “The flight cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances namely closure of Pakistan airspace.”
“In fact besides Birmingham, many other flights in our network have been cancelled, combined or being operated with restricted payload, to reduce impact on passenger travel to the minimum.”
#FlyAI : Important Update for our valued passengers. pic.twitter.com/NYHAAeIm3W
— Air India (@airindiain) March 13, 2019
