Flights affected: Air India reduces domestic frequency by 22% amid rising fuel prices

NEW DELHI: Air India on Wednesday announced that the airline has temporarily rationalised operations on select domestic routes between June and August 2026 amid the continued impact of high fuel prices and operational pressures linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict.Air India, which is facing mounting financial pressure, has already reduced international flights by around 27 per cent, PTI reported.Air India currently operates around 4,400 weekly flights, including nearly 3,600 domestic services and around 800 international flights. The latest rationalisation is expected to impact nearly 20-22 per cent of domestic operations during the June-August period.The airline said it will continue to monitor demand and operational conditions closely and restore frequencies once the situation stabilises.In a statement issued, Air India said, "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. These adjustments are driven by the sustained impact of high fuel prices on overall operations."The latest move comes days after the airline announced suspension and reduction of frequencies on 29 international routes amid rising aviation turbine fuel costs, airspace restrictions and operational disruptions linked to tensions in West Asia and the Strait of Hormuz crisis.Air India had earlier said the temporary changes were aimed at improving operational stability and minimising last-minute inconvenience to passengers as global aviation markets continue to face uncertainty due to the Iran conflict. The airline also cited soaring jet fuel prices and rerouting costs caused by restricted airspace over parts of West Asia.The carrier had suspended or reduced flights across North America, Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia, including routes connecting Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai to cities such as Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, Paris, Singapore, Bangkok and Melbourne. Despite the cuts, the airline said it would continue operating more than 1,200 international flights every month across five continents.Industry experts say airlines globally are facing mounting pressure from elevated crude oil prices, longer flying times due to conflict-zone diversions and weakening travel demand in some sectors. Air India is also exploring broader cost-control measures as it looks to manage operational expenses amid the prolonged geopolitical crisis.