Air India and IndiGo have decided to cut domestic flights due to rising Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices and weak demand. According to the information, this deduction may remain applicable for the next 90 days from June 1, 2026. The impact of this decision can be seen on many major air routes of the country.
According to reports, Air India may reduce its domestic operations by about 15 percent, while Indigo is preparing to reduce flights by 5 to 7 percent. Due to this, passengers may see impact on both ticket availability and fares.
It is being told that many domestic routes operating from big cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru may be affected. Airlines may cut back on flights where passenger numbers are low or operating costs are high.
According to experts, the prices of ATF have been continuously increasing for some time, due to which the cost of airlines has increased significantly. On the other hand, pressure on airline companies has increased due to lack of expected growth in domestic travel demand. For this reason, companies are adopting the strategy of temporarily reducing their operations.
Aviation sector experts say that reduction in flights can have a direct impact on fares also. Tickets can be expensive on many popular routes, with passengers paying higher prices, especially during weekends and holidays.
Although the detailed route list has not been released by the airlines yet, it is believed that official information regarding the affected flights and schedules may be revealed in the next few days.
IndiGo and Air India have a major share in the domestic aviation sector. In such a situation, this decision of both the companies may affect lakhs of passengers. Travel agencies say that travelers should plan their journey in advance and keep checking flight status continuously.
Experts believe that if there is relief in ATF prices and travel demand increases then airlines can normalize their operations again. At present, the next three months are considered challenging for the domestic aviation sector.
