India's two largest airlines, IndiGo and Air India, along with Air India Express, are withdrawing around 250 daily domestic flights starting from June, as high fuel costs and softening travel demand put pressure on operations. The cuts, which are expected to continue through the summer months of June to August, come at a time when airfares have already risen sharply.
The flight reductions are coming at a time when many families travel for summer vacations and leisure, potentially adding inconvenience during what is traditionally a peak holiday period for domestic tourism.
Air India is reducing about 22% of its domestic schedule during June and July. The airline operates nearly 500 domestic flights a day and the reduction would mean roughly 110 fewer flights daily.
IndiGo, which runs around 2,200 daily flights, is trimming its domestic capacity by 5-7%, resulting in about 110 fewer flights per day.
Meanwhile, Air India Express, a subsidiary of Air India Limited and a low-cost carrier (LCC) operating on an all-economy class model, is cutting nearly 10% of its roughly 340 daily domestic flights.
Specific routes facing cuts include several high-traffic sectors.
Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru are among the worst hit. As major hubs, these cities see the heaviest impact from frequency reductions on both outgoing and return flights. Many key business and leisure routes connected to these airports will operate with fewer services, making peak-hour travel more crowded and potentially less convenient for passengers.
From Mumbai, services to Jaipur, Goa, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Patna and Bhopal wil be seeing reduced frequencies.
From Delhi, flights to Goa, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Kochi and Kolkata are affected. Bengaluru, as a major southern hub, will feel the ripple effect through reduced return flights on these sectors.
The main reasons behind the cuts are quite straightforward.
Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices have risen sharply, by about 25% for domestic operations and even higher for international flights due to the war in West Asia.
Exactly a month ago, India's airline industry had sought urgent government intervention as a sharp rise in jet fuel prices began to strain operations and push up costs.
Fuel costs form a large part of airline budgets, and this increase has forced carriers to rationalise operations. On top of that, travel demand might have softened, with many people cutting back on discretionary trips.
Air India said in a statement that the adjustments are a temporary measure driven by high fuel prices. "Air India will continue to monitor demand and operating conditions closely," the airline noted.
IndiGo pointed to softer demand in the post-summer lean season as a key factor for its 5-7% cut.
The move is likely to push airfares higher. Fares on several routes have already increased by 30% in recent weeks, and airlines have introduced fuel surcharges of Rs 400-450 per passenger due to higher ATF costs.
With fewer seats available, prices could climb further, especially on busy sectors linking Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru, which could make air travel less affordable for many during the next three months.
However, airlines are restoring some international services to West Asia as airspace restrictions ease.
While the cuts might cause short-term inconvenience, airlines say they will restore flights as soon as conditions improve. For now, travellers from Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru should plan ahead as these cities might bear the brunt of the flight reductions.
