Air India To Cut International Flights Till July Amid West Asia Crisis, Fuel Price Surge

Air India will further reduce its international flight operations through July as soaring jet fuel prices and continuing airspace restrictions linked to the West Asia conflict have made several overseas routes financially unviable, the airline’s CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson said on Friday.

In a message to staff, Wilson said the airline had already cut back some international services during April and May due to operational challenges caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

“We have reduced some flying for April and May,” Wilson said, adding that the “massive rise in jet fuel prices”, combined with airspace closures and the need for longer flight paths, had significantly increased operating costs.

Airspace restrictions across parts

of West Asia have forced airlines, including Air India, to avoid certain routes and take longer detours for international flights. The diversions have led to higher fuel consumption and increased operational expenses on long-haul routes.

Wilson said the situation remained “extremely challenging” and left the airline with little option but to further trim schedules for June and July as well.

“We very much regret the disruption to our customers’ plans and our crew’s rosters, and hope that the Middle East situation settles — and the Strait of Hormuz opens — soon so that we can get back to a more normal state,” he said.

The airline has been among the carriers most affected by the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region, particularly because several of its Europe and North America-bound flights rely on air corridors passing through or near West Asia.

The latest operational cuts come as Air India continues to face mounting financial pressure. According to estimates, the Air India Group is expected to report losses exceeding Rs 22,000 crore for the financial year ending March 31, 2026.

Wilson, who has also announced plans to step down from his role later this year, has been overseeing the airline’s restructuring and expansion efforts since the Tata Group took over ownership of the carrier. However, ongoing global fuel price volatility and geopolitical disruptions have added fresh uncertainty to the airline’s recovery plans.