New Delhi: IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express will cut around 250 daily domestic flights from June through August amid a 25% rise in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices and weakening travel demand.
The reductions come ahead of the peak summer holiday season, with Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru expected to be the worst affected.
Air India is trimming about 22% of its domestic schedule, reducing nearly 110 flights from its roughly 500 daily services. IndiGo, operating around 2,200 daily flights, is cutting capacity by 5–7%, also leading to about 110 fewer flights per day. Air India Express is reducing nearly 10% of its 340 daily domestic flights.
Route impacts are significant. From Mumbai, reduced services include Jaipur, Goa, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Patna, and Bhopal. From Delhi, affected routes include Goa, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Kochi, and Kolkata. Bengaluru will also see reduced return frequencies across key sectors.
Airfares have already risen by nearly 30%, with airlines adding fuel surcharges of ₹400–450 per passenger. Fuel costs have surged due to global tensions in West Asia, making operations more expensive.
Air India called the cuts temporary and demand-driven, while IndiGo cited softer post-summer travel demand. Some international West Asia services are being restored as airspace conditions improve, though domestic fares may rise further, prompting travellers to plan ahead.
