After slashing international ops, Air India to also cut 22% domestic flights

New Delhi: After 145 weekly international flights, loss-making Air India will now slash its domestic flights by about 22% this summer due to rising jet fuel prices. The airline has reported a loss of about Rs 25,000 crore last fiscal and is pulling all stops to cut costs at a time when operating costs have soared due to soaring fuel, crashing rupee and muted travel demand. Air India operates around 4,400 weekly flights. Out of them, about 3,600 are domestic, and 800 are international services. Roughly about 800 weekly domestic flights could be cut now.



An AI spokesperson said: “In continuation of our previously announced adjustments to select international services between June and Aug 2026, we have temporarily rationalised operations on certain domestic routes during the same period, with a reduction in frequencies on select routes. 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. Passengers impacted by these changes will be proactively assisted with re-accommodation on alternative flights, complimentary date changes, or full refunds, as applicable," the spokesperson added.

Earlier this month, AI had decided to suspend an additional 145 weekly flights between this June and Aug. While these new cuts, which come on top of almost 100 daily flights being suspended earlier this summer, have been made to cut costs amid spiralling operating expenditures and mounting losses, for passengers it will mean even higher fares on the truncated supply this summer as the big Gulf carriers are also operating a reduced capacity.

AI said the rationalisation of its services on select international routes between June and Aug 2026 was made “in response to a combination of factors, including continued airspace restrictions over certain regions and record high jet fuel prices for international operations, which significantly impact the commercial viability of certain planned services.”
Ready to Make a Smarter Property Decision? Build Your Legacy with TOI Homes.