IndiGo temporarily suspends operations to 6 international destinations. Here’s why | Today’s news

India’s largest airline IndiGo on Thursday announced that it has temporarily suspended flights to six international destinations, including Hong Kong and Krabi, as part of a broader network optimization strategy, PTI reported.

The budget carrier has decided to temporarily suspend flights to Langkawi, Krabi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong and Shanghai from July 1 and Siem Reap from July 3 to September 30, IndiGo said in a statement.

The decision was made in light of traditionally weaker demand in the coming quarter and an incredibly challenging cost environment, the company said.

IndiGo will resume bookings on all affected services from October 1, subject to an improved environment, it said, adding that the airline is ready to resume these services earlier than planned at a reasonable time.

The carrier also said it has managed to maintain the majority of its international operations – over 1,800 international flights per week – despite the realignment.

“These measured changes are designed to align capacity with current market conditions and demand trends, while ensuring the airline maintains reliability and network integrity in its global destinations,” the statement said.

The airline will continue to monitor the situation due to increased operating costs and continued airspace restrictions, she added.

Here’s what the government said ₹10 thousand million ATF support in the middle of the crisis in West Asia

The center announced on Thursday a ₹10,000 crore aviation turbine fuel (ATF) price stabilization mechanism for Indian airlines to ensure stability of air services and protect passengers from the impact of extreme volatility in global fuel prices amid the ongoing crisis in West Asia, ANI reported.

Speaking at an inter-ministerial media briefing, Ministry of Civil Aviation Director Rohit Raj said the Union Cabinet has approved a “one-time budgetary support mechanism of up to Rs 10,000 crore to provide ATF price stabilization support to scheduled Indian carriers”.

Raj said the decision was taken in the “larger public interest to protect air connectivity, ensure stability of air services and protect passengers from the impact of extraordinary volatility in global fuel prices arising from the ongoing crisis”.

Under the approved mechanism, the government will provide an interest-free advance to oil marketing companies (OMCs) to enable them to supply jet fuel to participating Indian airlines at a predetermined stable price. “Whenever international ATF prices rise above the benchmark, which is the fixed price under this arrangement, the corpus will make up the difference to the OMC,” Raj explained.

(With input from agencies)