Air India to cut 22 pc domestic flights amid high fuel prices

Air India operates around 4,400 weekly flights. Out of them, about 3,600 are domestic, and 800 are international services

New Delhi: Air India has temporarily cut 22 per cent of its domestic flights as the loss-making airline grapples with the impact of the high fuel prices, according to sources.

The decision comes two weeks after the Tata Group-owned airline announced a 27 per cent reduction in international flights amid airspace curbs, as well as costlier jet fuel, which have pushed the operational costs higher for overseas sectors.

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Air India operates around 4,400 weekly flights. Out of them, about 3,600 are domestic, and 800 are international services.

“In continuation of our previously announced adjustments to select international services between June and August 2026, we have temporarily rationalised operations on certain domestic routes during the same period, with a reduction in frequencies on select routes,” Air India said in a statement on Wednesday.

The sources said 20-22 per cent of the domestic flights would be reduced.

Based on around 3,600 weekly domestic flights, the 22 per cent cut would result in a reduction of more than 790 weekly services.

The airline said these adjustments are driven by the sustained impact of high fuel prices on overall operations.

“Air India will continue to monitor demand and operating conditions closely, with a view to restoring frequencies as conditions stabilise,” it said in the statement.

The carrier also said that passengers impacted by these changes will be proactively assisted with re-accommodation on alternative flights, complimentary date changes, or full refunds, as applicable.

On May 13, Air India announced reducing international flights during the June-August period.

The airline would cut nearly 100 overseas flights and temporarily suspend services on seven routes, including Delhi-Chicago, which will result in up to a 27 per cent reduction in its international capacity.

The carrier will be temporarily suspending services on Delhi-Chicago, Delhi-Newark, Mumbai-New York, Delhi-Shanghai, Chennai-Singapore, Mumbai-Dhaka, and Delhi-Male routes till August.

While announcing the rationalisation of services, Air India, on May 13, also said it “may make further adjustments to its network, should the extraordinary operating environment prevail”.

Air India’s loss stood at more than SGD 3.56 billion (over Rs 26,700 crore) in the financial year ended March 2026, as per the figures disclosed by Singapore Airlines Group in its annual financial report for 2025-2 that was released on May 14.

Singapore Airlines Group’s net profit dropped 57 per cent to SGD 1.184 billion (nearly Rs 8,900 crore) in the fiscal year ended March 2026, mainly due to the absence of a prior-year one-off accounting gain related to the Vistara merger, and Air India losses.

The group owns a 25.1 per cent stake in Air India, and the remaining shareholding is with Tatas.