Key Takeaways:
- Air India cut 250 weekly international flights due to doubled fuel costs and airspace closures.
- Major routes to North America and Europe are suspended or reduced through August 2026.
- The carrier deferred salary increments by one quarter to offset rising operational financial pressures.
Air India has cut about 250 weekly international flights for June through August as soaring jet fuel prices and West Asia airspace disruptions strain operations and force the airline to suspend and reduce several overseas routes.
Air India Suspends Key International Routes
The Tata Group-owned carrier said the schedule reductions affect routes across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Several services have been suspended temporarily, including Delhi-Chicago, Delhi-Newark, Mumbai-New York, Delhi-Shanghai, Chennai-Singapore, Delhi-Malé, and Mumbai-Dhaka.
The airline also reduced frequencies on multiple international routes. Delhi-San Francisco flights dropped from 10 weekly services to seven through August, while Delhi-Paris flights were cut from 14 weekly services to seven. Flights from Delhi to Melbourne and Sydney were reduced from daily service to four weekly operations.
Air India said the changes were necessary because of “continued airspace restrictions over certain regions and record-high jet fuel prices for international operations.”
“Despite the challenges and beyond these adjustments, Air India will continue to operate more than 1,200 international flights every month,” the airline said in a statement.
West Asia Conflict Raises Operating Costs
The reductions come as the ongoing West Asia conflict disrupts major international air corridors used by Indian carriers. The war, which began Feb. 28, has caused airspace restrictions across parts of the Gulf region, a critical transit corridor for flights between India, Europe, and North America.
Because of the closures, Air India has been forced to use longer routes for several long-haul flights, increasing fuel consumption and operating expenses.
Jet fuel already accounted for nearly 40% of Indian airlines’ operating costs before the conflict. International jet fuel prices have more than doubled since late February, according to industry estimates cited by the airline.
Unlike domestic operations, where airlines absorbed part of the fuel increase, carriers operating international flights must pay full international fuel prices. The combination of higher fuel costs and extended flight paths has sharply reduced profitability on many overseas routes.
The situation has also been complicated by the continued closure of Pakistan’s airspace to Indian airlines since April 2025, limiting routing options further.
Airline Defers Increments Amid Uncertain Outlook
Air India said it continues to work with regulators, airport authorities, and industry partners to restore normal operations “as soon as conditions permit.” However, the airline warned that additional network adjustments may be required if disruptions continue.
The company recently assured employees that it does not anticipate layoffs despite mounting financial pressure. However, Air India management said annual salary increments would be deferred by at least one quarter because of what it described as a “volatile economic and operating environment.”
The airline said planned employee bonuses for the previous financial year and staff promotions would continue as scheduled.
Among other major changes, Delhi-Toronto flights were reduced from 10 weekly services to five through July before returning to daily operations in August. Delhi-Singapore flights were cut from 24 weekly services to 14, while Mumbai-Singapore operations were halved from 14 weekly flights to seven.
Air India said it remains committed to maintaining a broad global network spanning five continents despite the temporary curtailments.
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