Air India on Wednesday said it will curtail its international operations and temporarily suspend flights on six routes due to airspace restrictions and increased jet fuel costs.
The airline, which already operates reduced frequencies on some overseas routes, said the revised schedule would remain in place from June to August.
6 Air India overseas routes suspended
Air India has announced that it will temporarily suspend operations on six international routes until August:
Despite the suspensions, the airline said it would continue to operate more than 1,200 international flights each month. As per the revised schedule, Air India will maintain 33 flights per week to North America, 47 to Europe, 57 to the UK, 8 to Australia, 158 to destinations in the Far East, South East Asia and the SAARC region and seven flights per week to Mauritius.
Air India said several factors, including ongoing airspace restrictions in some regions and exceptionally high jet fuel costs for international operations, have significantly affected the commercial viability of certain planned services.
“Air India today announced the rationalization of its services on select international routes between June and August 2026. The adjustments have been made in response to a combination of factors, including continued airspace restrictions in certain regions and record high jet fuel prices for international operations, which significantly affects the commercial viability of certain planned services,” the airline said.
Air India said it will assist passengers affected by the cancellations by offering rebooking to alternative Air India flights, free date changes or full refunds, depending on eligibility, where possible. The airline added that customers can seek support through its 24/7 contact center and digital channels.
The disruption comes as Tata Group-owned Air India searches for a new chief executive after Campbell Wilson stepped down in April.
According to data compiled by Bloomberg, jet fuel prices in May were 63% higher for international operations and nearly 15% higher for domestic flights compared to levels before the Iran conflict. As fuel can account for up to 40% of an airline’s operating costs, even a relatively small increase can have a substantial impact on profitability.
Indian airlines are also facing longer flight times to Europe and the United States as the closure of Iranian airspace adds to existing restrictions on the use of Pakistani airspace that have been in place since May last year.
Air India currently operates a fleet of approximately 190 aircraft and operates nearly 8,000 flights every week. It carried nearly 62 million passengers in the financial year ending March 31, 2026.
Air India Town Hall Meeting
At an employee town hall Friday, the airline announced several measures to control costs, including delaying an annual pay raise and urging employees to reduce their own spending.
CEO Campbell Wilson said that due to airspace restrictions, some routes that were previously viable have become much less profitable and in some cases unprofitable, prompting the airline to curtail operations in these sectors, according to PTI.
“We will continue to do things that improve revenue and continue to improve costs,” Wilson said.
