Leading Indian airlines such as Air India, IndiGo, and Air India Express are poised to scale back their domestic flight operations starting in June, driven by surging fuel prices, reduced travel demand, and regional geopolitical tensions that have escalated operational expenses. The adjustments come as carriers seek to navigate the financial pressures stemming from high aviation turbine fuel costs linked to the ongoing unrest in West Asia.
Air India plans to slash its domestic flight frequencies by about 22% under a temporary network rationalisation strategy. This move follows a prior reduction of approximately 27% in its international operations over the recent months. The airline emphasized that these changes aim to mitigate the impact of persistently elevated fuel prices and challenging operating conditions. Currently, Air India manages around 3,600 domestic flights weekly, and it assured affected passengers that alternative flights, date changes, or refunds would be offered where applicable.
Meanwhile, Air India Express will also curb some of its domestic flights, though officials noted that the effect would remain below 10% of its overall network. Despite these reductions, the airline continues to expand services on selected domestic and international routes, making strategic adjustments to better align capacity with demand. Air India Express operates over 3,000 flights weekly, including about 500 weekly services connecting India and West Asia.
IndiGo, another major player in the Indian aviation sector, is expected to trim its domestic operations by approximately 10% to 13% compared to the previous quarter, according to industry sources. The decision reflects a broader trend among airlines that are grappling with increased costs and operational challenges, including longer flight routes and extra expenses due to the continued closure of Pakistani airspace to Indian carriers.
Industry analysts suggest that airlines will likely continue to closely monitor fuel prices and passenger demand before considering a restoration of their flight frequencies. The current adjustments underscore the complex dynamics of balancing operational efficiency and market demand in the face of ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainties.