Air India Is Cutting Over 100 Flights a Day Till July. Here's Why, Which Routes Are Hit, and What You Should Do Now

Affected Routes

The airline has confirmed that long-haul international routes will face the steepest reductions, specifically;

• Europe (London, Paris, Frankfurt, Rome)
• North America (New York, Toronto, Chicago, San Francisco)
• Australia (Sydney, Melbourne)
• Singapore

Domestic routes are also being cut down, but the cuts are proportionally less severe. The airline's total scheduled capacity is being reduced by roughly 15-20 percent for the June-July period.

A senior Air India official confirmed to Economic Times that many of the affected flights are "currently operating below break-even levels."

Also Read: Bali Layover, Heart Attack, No Warning: The Story of Air India's Fallen Pilot

Major Reasons Behind the Cut Down

1. Jet Fuel Prices Have Exploded

Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) for international flights was hiked by 5 per cent on May 2, 2026. This was the second consecutive monthly hike. Before that, on April 1, domestic ATF prices jumped 25 per cent — from roughly ₹83,000 to ₹104,927 per kilolitre.

International ATF is now priced at USD 1,511.86 per kilolitre in Delhi — an increase of USD 76.55 per kilolitre (5.33 percent) in a single revision.

Fuel accounts for approximately 40 per cent of any airline's operating costs. When fuel costs go up by 25-30 percent in two months, the financial hit is immediate. Revenue from fares doesn't adjust at the same speed. The gap has to be absorbed — or capacity has to be cut.

2. Pakistani Airspace Remains Closed

The closure of Pakistani airspace — a consequence of the broader geopolitical strain in the region — has forced Indian carriers to reroute all flights to Europe and North America. Flights that previously crossed Pakistan into Central Asia and on to Europe now have to go around, adding hours to flight times.

For Air India specifically, flights to North America now require technical or operational stops in cities like Vienna or Stockholm. This adds crew duty time, additional fuel for the longer distance, and airport fees at the transit stop. The cost impact on each long-haul flight is significant and ongoing.

Also Read: Air India Revises Fuel Surcharge from April 8 Amid Rising Jet Fuel Prices

3. Cumulative Losses of Over ₹22,000 Crore

The airline's losses have exceeded ₹22,000 crore for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026. Since Tata Group acquired Air India in 2022, the airline has invested heavily in fleet upgrades, new liveries, cabin refurbishments, and route expansions. But execution has been slow and competition from IndiGo and Vistara (now merged with Air India) has been fierce.

With the Iran war driving oil prices to sustained highs — Brent crude was above 10 per barrel as of May 2 — the situation has worsened sharply since March 2026. TATA Sons and Singapore Airlines are both under pressure to stabilise the operation.

What Travellers Should Do Now

If you have an Air India booking on any international or domestic flight between now and the end of July, here's the practical checklist:

• Check your flight status before packing. Air India updates cancellations on its website (airindia.com) and through SMS/email to registered passengers. Check 48-72 hours before departure.
• If your flight is cancelled, Air India is obligated to offer a full refund or a rebooking on the next available service. Do not accept vouchers if you want cash back — ask specifically for a refund to your original payment method.
• For credit/debit card purchases, if Air India fails to process the refund promptly, raise a chargeback with your bank under the "service not rendered" category.
• Rewards points and vouchers — Spirit Airlines' shutdown (covered separately) shows what happens when airlines fold completely. Air India isn't in that position, but passengers holding Air India reward miles on cancelled routes should note: redeem them before conditions worsen further.
• Travel insurance: If you booked through a third-party agent or online portal, check whether your travel insurance covers airline-initiated cancellations. Not all policies do.
• Alternative carriers for Europe: Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, and Emirates are running full schedules and may absorb the demand from Air India cuts. Fares may go up in the short term as capacity tightens.

FAQs

Q1: Which Air India routes are most affected by the flight cuts? 

Europe, North America (especially New York and Toronto), Australia, and Singapore routes are the most impacted. Some domestic routes are also seeing reductions.

Q2: Why is Air India cutting flights now? 

A combination of sharply rising ATF prices (up 25% in April, another 5% in May for international), Pakistani airspace closure adding fuel and time costs to long-haul routes, and cumulative airline losses exceeding ₹22,000 crore.

Q3: How much has jet fuel gone up in 2026? 

Domestic ATF jumped 25% on April 1 to ₹1,04,927 per kilolitre. International ATF was hiked 5.33% on May 2, now priced at USD 1,511.86 per kilolitre at Delhi.

Q4: What should I do if my Air India flight is cancelled? 

Request a full refund to your original payment method. For credit card payments, you can raise a chargeback if refunds are delayed. Check the flight status 48-72 hours before travel.

Q5: When will Air India restore normal flight schedules?

 The airline indicated that sustained fuel increases could force additional cuts if conditions don't improve. Recovery depends on ATF price stabilisation and Pakistani airspace reopening — both uncertain as of May 2026.

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