Airlines to slash 250 flights as fuel shock threatens fare surge

Kochi: India’s aviation sector is facing growing turbulence as major airlines sharply reduce domestic flights amid soaring fuel prices andweakening passenger demand. The cuts are expected to push airfares higher and increase pressure on already busy airports.

The impact will be most visible at key aviation hubs such as Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. Airlines are reducing frequencies on several high-traffic routes connecting these cities with destinations including Goa, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata and Lucknow, affecting thousands of passengers.

Air India has announced the steepest reduction, temporarily cutting 22 per cent of its domestic operations during June and July. The move will remove around 110 flights from its daily schedule of about 500 services. The airline has attributed the decision to rising fuel costs, which have significantly increased operating expenses.

IndiGo, the country’s largest carrier, is also reducing capacity by 5 to 7 per cent, resulting in roughly 110 fewer flights a day. Air India Express, which operates around 340 daily services, is cutting domestic operations by 10 per cent. The airline has cited a decline in travel demand following the summer holiday season as a key reason for the move.

The crisis has been driven largely by a sharp increase in aviation turbine fuel prices. Domestic jet fuel rates have reportedly risen by about 25 per cent, placing heavy pressure on airline finances. Geopolitical tensions in West Asia have further contributed to higher global fuel prices, worsening the situation for carriers.

With fuel remaining one of the biggest costs in airline operations and passenger demand showing signs of slowing, companies are increasingly focused on reducing expenses. For travellers, however, the consequences could be fewer flight options, higher ticket prices and greater congestion on popular routes as airlines attempt to weather a difficult economic environment.