Air travelers in the country may face problems in the coming months. Tata Group’s airline Air India has decided to make a major cut in its domestic flights between June and August 2026. The company will reduce about 800 domestic flights every week. The biggest reason behind this is said to be the continuously increasing prices of jet fuel. There is also news that the country’s largest airline Indigo can also cut domestic flights by 5% to 7%.
Air India is currently operating around 4400 flights every week. These include approximately 3600 domestic and 800 international flights. The company has announced a reduction in domestic flights by about 22%. It is believed that the impact of this decision can be seen on many major routes. Experts related to the aviation sector say that for some time now there has been a rise in the prices of crude oil at the global level, which has had a direct impact on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) i.e. jet fuel. Fuel accounts for the largest share in the total operating expenses of airlines. In such a situation, companies are taking steps like cutting flights to control rising costs.
According to sources, Air India can have the biggest impact on those routes where the number of passengers is relatively less or where there is more competition among several airlines. However, it has not yet been clarified by the company on which cities or routes the flights will be reduced. On the other hand, a news report has claimed that Indigo can also reduce domestic flights by 5% to 7%. However, Indigo has not yet made any official announcement on this. But if this happens, it can have a big impact on the country’s aviation sector, because Indigo holds the largest share in the Indian domestic aviation market.
Experts believe that reduction in flights can also have a direct impact on the pockets of passengers. Demand for tickets may increase due to fewer flights, which is likely to increase fares. Passengers may have to face expensive tickets, especially during festival and holiday seasons. Airline companies are currently trying to reduce costs and balance operations. Many companies are facing challenges like delays in delivery of new aircraft, fuel costs and global economic pressure. In such a situation, more changes may be seen in the aviation sector in the coming months. At present, passengers are being advised to plan their journey in advance and book tickets well in time, because the reduction in flights may affect the availability of seats on many routes.
