Air India is implementing substantial reductions and suspensions across its international flight network, effective from June 1 to August 31, 2026. The Tata-owned carrier attributes these changes to a sharp rise in global jet fuel prices and ongoing airspace restrictions stemming from the conflict in West Asia.
According to aviation schedule tracker Aeroroutes, the airline has ceased accepting reservations on various routes for this three-month period, indicating around 100 daily flight adjustments as it aims to manage escalating operational expenses.
Routes Affected by Suspensions and Reductions
Several key international destinations will see changes to Air India's services:
- Suspended Routes (from Delhi): Flights to Chicago, Newark, Singapore, and Shanghai have been suspended. Specifically, one of two daily Chennai-Singapore services is cancelled, and five weekly Delhi-Shanghai Pudong flights are suspended for the period.
- Reduced Frequencies:
- Delhi-San Francisco: Reduced from 10 to 7 weekly services.
- Delhi-Paris Charles de Gaulle: Reduced from 14 to 12 weekly services.
- Delhi-Toronto: Reduced from 13 to 7 weekly services.
- Mumbai-Bangkok Suvarnabhumi: Reduced from 13 to 7 weekly flights.
- Mumbai-Colombo: Reduced from 7 to 4 weekly flights.
- Additional frequency suspensions are also noted for routes connecting Delhi to Melbourne and Sydney.
Driving Factors: Fuel Prices and Airspace Issues
The decision to scale back operations comes as airlines worldwide contend with a significant increase in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices. Reports indicate that average global jet fuel prices surged to $162.89 per barrel by early May 2026, a notable jump from $99.40 per barrel at the end of February.
Fuel represents a major cost component for airlines, often accounting for up to 40% of operating expenses. Such price hikes often compel carriers to either raise fares or reduce capacity to maintain profitability.
Furthermore, airspace closures over Pakistan and Iran have forced Indian carriers to adopt longer westbound flight paths. These extended routes result in increased fuel consumption, higher crew costs, and longer flying times for long-haul international services, further exacerbating operational challenges for Air India.