Air India to Suspend Several International Flights for Three Months Amid Rising Fuel Costs

New Delhi, May 2026 : Air India has decided to suspend multiple international flights for a three-month period beginning June, as the airline grapples with rising jet fuel prices triggered by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, according to reports.

The suspension and reduction in services will impact several key international routes from Delhi, including major destinations such as Chicago and Newark in the United States, as well as Singapore and Shanghai. Flights to other prominent cities including San Francisco, Paris, and Toronto have also been curtailed as part of the revised operational plan.

Overall, the airline is reported to have reduced nearly 100 daily flights across its international network, reflecting growing financial and operational pressure on India’s flag carrier.

Air India Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson had last week indicated that the airline would continue to scale back international operations in response to sustained increases in fuel costs and broader geopolitical instability affecting aviation economics.

The aviation sector has been facing rising input costs due to volatile crude oil prices, which directly impact aviation turbine fuel (ATF) rates, significantly increasing operating expenses for airlines worldwide.

In addition to route rationalisation, Air India has intensified its internal cost-control and compliance measures as part of its broader restructuring efforts under the Tata Group.

During a recent town hall meeting with employees, CEO Campbell Wilson disclosed that the airline has terminated over 1,000 employees over the past three years for various instances of ethical misconduct and policy violations.

These violations reportedly included misuse of the Employee Leisure Travel (ELT) system, smuggling items from aircraft, and permitting excess baggage without appropriate charges. The airline said stricter enforcement is necessary to maintain operational integrity and financial discipline.

The move comes at a time when the Air India Group, which includes Air India and Air India Express, is projected to have posted losses exceeding ₹22,000 crore in the financial year ending March 2026.

As part of its turnaround strategy, the airline has already introduced several austerity measures, including freezing annual salary increments, reducing discretionary expenditures, and cutting non-essential operational costs across departments.

Government data has also indicated a sharp increase in losses reported by Air India Express in FY25, adding further pressure on the group’s financial performance.

With global aviation facing continued uncertainty due to geopolitical tensions and fluctuating fuel prices, Air India’s restructuring and route optimisation efforts are expected to continue in the coming months as it attempts to stabilise operations and improve long-term profitability.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)