Air India will reduce up to 22 per cent of its domestic flights amid rising operational costs due to high fuel prices, sources told news agency PTI. The loss-making airline, which is facing financial headwinds, has reduced international flights by around 27 per cent, the sources said.
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.
Sources said 20-22 per cent of the domestic flights would be reduced.
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.
Air India announced earlier in May that it was suspending routes to Chicago, Shanghai, Male and Singapore from Indian cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai, between June and August.
It also announced a cut in flight frequency to San Francisco, Paris, Milan, and Sydney.
Since taking over Air India in 2022, the Tata conglomerate has embarked on an ambitious overhaul, ordering hundreds of aircraft and upgrading its ageing fleet, AFP reported.
The Middle East war has proven to be the latest in a series of setbacks.
The biggest blow to the airline's image came in June 2025, when Air India Flight 171 — a London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner — crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing all but one of the 242 people on board and 19 people on the ground.
(With inputs from agencies)
