Air India will suspend several international routes for 3 months from June as soaring jet fuel prices and the Middle East conflict squeeze operations. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The airline is set to cut roughly 100 daily flights overall during the period, according to reports that link the reductions to higher fuel bills and wider financial pressure on the carrier. The reports say Air India Group has reported losses of more than Rs 22,000 crore and has terminated more than 1,000 employees over 3 years as part of a broader turnaround effort. [1, 2]
The affected routes include flights from Delhi to Chicago, Newark, Singapore and Shanghai, while services to San Francisco, Paris and Toronto will also be reduced, according to the English-language reports. Chinese-language reports said the suspension and cuts will cover routes from New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai to Chicago, Shanghai, Male and Singapore, with reductions also planned to San Francisco, Paris, Milan and Sydney. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Air India said in a statement quoted by the Chinese-language report that it will keep operating more than 1,200 international flights a month despite the changes. It also said several factors had "significantly" affected the viability of some flights. [3]
The reports said the airline has been under pressure from rising fuel costs after the Middle East conflict lifted jet fuel prices. One report said a war in Iran erupted in late February and helped push costs higher. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson reportedly said last week the airline would keep scaling back international services because of higher fuel expenses. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The route suspensions and reductions are due to run from June to August, with the cuts expected to take effect after the June start date. [3, 4]
