Air India has announced significant adjustments to its international flight schedule, reducing or temporarily suspending services on 29 international routes between June and August 2026. According to reports from AFP, the airline stated that the move is aimed at maintaining operational stability, controlling costs and avoiding last-minute disruptions for passengers. Despite these changes, Air India assured it will continue operating more than 1,200 international flights every month across five continents. The airline did not provide the total number of flights affected but confirmed specific route suspensions to Chicago, Shanghai, Male and Singapore from certain Indian cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. Latest reports indicate that weekly 200 round-trip services are being removed from Air India's schedule, with the airline citing continuous airspace restrictions in certain regions and record-high jet fuel prices for international operations as key factors affecting commercial viability.
Several long-haul routes between India and North America have been significantly impacted. According to AFP, Delhi-Chicago and Newark flights, along with Mumbai-New York (JFK) are among the affected routes. Delhi-San Francisco flights will reduce from 10 to 7 per week, Delhi-Toronto services will drop from 10 to 5 flights until July, before returning to daily operations in August, and Delhi-Vancouver will see a reduction from 7 to 5 weekly flights. However, some routes will see increases, with Mumbai-Newark services expanding from three weekly flights to daily service and Delhi-New York (JFK) continuing as daily operations. Despite suspending the Chicago-Delhi nonstop service through August 2026, passengers can still travel this route via interline partners Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, which connect from ORD Airport to JFK Airport for nonstop Air India flights from New York to Delhi.
Air India has adjusted several European routes significantly, with Delhi-Paris flights cut from 14 to 7 per week and Delhi-Copenhagen reducing from 4 to 3. In Australia, both major routes have been reduced, with Delhi-Melbourne and Delhi-Sydney now operating four flights per week each instead of 7. In Asia, Singapore services will be heavily impacted, with Delhi-Singapore dropping from 24 to 14 weekly flights and Mumbai-Singapore reducing from 14 to 7. Bangkok routes are also being scaled down, with Delhi-Bangkok reduced from 28 to 21 and Mumbai-Bangkok from 13 to 7.
Air India has assured passengers affected by cancellations or reduced services will be offered rebooking options on alternative flights, free date changes or full refunds depending on their preference. As reported by AFP, the airline is also exploring additional cost-saving steps, including changes in in-flight meal options and introducing separate charges for lounge access. Despite suspending the Chicago-Delhi nonstop service, passengers can still travel this route via interline partners, with Alaska Airlines or United Airlines connecting from ORD Airport to JFK Airport for nonstop Air India flights from New York to Delhi. The airline is also exploring alternative aircraft options, with Air India's interline partners making it possible to experience the airline's best, newest aircraft A350 with world-class amenities and premium economy seats on the JFK-DEL route.
The announcement comes after Air India posted losses of over ₹22,000 crore in the previous financial year and had cut nearly 90 daily flights in May as part of operational adjustments. The changes also align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent appeal for citizens to reduce non-essential foreign travel during economic pressure. According to Travel Beats, the airline is positioning these changes as an opportunity to showcase its long-range, fuel-efficient aircraft A350 with world-class amenities and premium economy seats, which operates nonstop on the JFK-DEL route and offers top-notch business class flight experience that has earned high ratings from celebrities and industry professionals.
