Air India Cuts Domestic Flight Frequencies Amid Surge In Fuel Costs

Air India has reduced frequencies on select domestic routes for the next three months as elevated aviation turbine fuel prices continue to increase operating expenses for airlines.

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The Tata Group-owned carrier said on May 28 that the temporary adjustments would remain in place between June and August 2026. According to sources, the airline may reduce nearly 20-22% of its domestic services during the period.

The airline currently operates around 4,400 weekly flights, including nearly 3,600 domestic services and about 800 international flights.

“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.
The airline added that the move was driven by the sustained impact of high fuel prices on overall operations.

International Operations Also Impacted

Apart from domestic route adjustments, Air India has also scaled back international operations. Sources indicated that international services have already been reduced by nearly 27% amid mounting operational costs and pressure on profitability.

Indian airlines have been experiencing increased costs in the form of high fuel costs due to the steep rise in crude oil prices due to geopolitical conflicts in West Asia.

Another challenge that the aviation industry has been facing is the disruption in operations due to airspace bans and route diversion in some international air routes, which has increased the flight time and resulted in increased fuel consumption.

Passenger Assistance Measures Announced

Air India said passengers affected by the revised schedule would receive assistance through alternative flight arrangements, complimentary date changes or full refunds, depending on eligibility.

The airline stated that it would continue monitoring travel demand and operating conditions before restoring frequencies on affected routes.

Travel by air in India usually slows down after the busy summer vacation season, and this has also resulted in an analysis of route capacity by airlines.

Sector Confronts Cost Pressures

The Indian airlines industry has witnessed tough times in terms of cost because of escalating fuel prices and increased operating costs. Aviation turbine fuel remains one of the largest cost components for airlines.

According to industry data, several domestic carriers have already reduced flights in recent months as airlines focus on maintaining yields and managing costs. The latest adjustments by Air India come at a time when carriers are balancing capacity deployment with fluctuating passenger demand and volatile fuel markets.

The airline said it would review operational conditions regularly and take further decisions based on market demand, fuel prices and network requirements in the coming months.