According to Times Now, Air India has implemented significant operational cuts affecting both international and domestic services. The airline is scheduled to operate 2,655 weekly domestic flights in June 2026, representing a decline of over 28% from 3,696 flights in June 2025, as reported by aviation analytics firm Cirium. However, Times Now reports that Air India is reducing its domestic operations up to 15% during the June-August 2026 period. This marks the sharpest reduction in domestic operations in percentage terms among all Indian carriers, as previously reported by Business Standard.
As per Times Now sources, services from Mumbai to Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Patna and Bhopal are likely to be reduced among other routes. From the Delhi Airport, the number of flights to Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata are also likely to be cut. The airline's spokesperson confirmed that these adjustments are driven by the sustained impact of high fuel prices on overall operations, with the airline continuing to monitor demand and operating conditions closely.
According to Air India's statement, passengers impacted by these changes will be proactively assisted with re-accommodation on alternative flights, complimentary date changes, or full refunds. The airline emphasized its commitment to supporting affected customers during this period of operational adjustments. Air India Express has also reduced 10% domestic operations in response to weak demand, with the airline stating it has been progressively restoring connectivity between India and West Asia while making calibrated adjustments to optimize network capacity.
As reported by Times Now, Air India and IndiGo control over 90% of the domestic aviation market, making their decision to scale down operations particularly significant for the industry. Aviation consultant Parvez Damania told Times Now that this move is truly sad news for India's aviation sector and, more importantly, for the common traveler. He warned that an inevitable surge in ticket pricing is bound to follow with fewer seats available and soaring fuel costs being passed down to consumers.
