SRINAGAR: Air India on Wednesday announced suspension and reduction of services on 29 international routes between June and August 2026 amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, rising jet fuel prices and airspace restrictions across key regions.
The airline said the temporary adjustments were aimed at improving operational stability and minimising last-minute inconvenience to passengers as global aviation continues to face disruptions linked to the Iran crisis and instability around the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement, Air India said the decision was taken due to “continued airspace restrictions over certain regions and record high jet fuel prices for international operations”, which have affected the commercial viability of some planned services.
The airline, however, said it would continue operating more than 1,200 international flights every month across five continents despite the reductions.
According to the airline, the network will include 33 weekly flights to North America, 47 to Europe, 57 to the United Kingdom, eight to Australia, 158 to the Far East, Southeast Asia and SAARC regions, and seven weekly services to Mauritius.
The latest move comes as the conflict in West Asia has sharply increased global oil prices and disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy routes through which nearly one-fifth of global oil supply passes.
Airlines worldwide have been struggling with soaring operating costs due to the rise in aviation turbine fuel prices and regional airspace disruptions.
Air India had already reduced around 90 daily flights in May and is now undertaking another phase of network rationalisation as part of broader cost-control measures.
