For millions of travellers planning holidays, family visits or business trips this summer, air travel is becoming more expensive and less predictable. Airlines in India, the Middle East and across the world are reducing flights, adjusting schedules and rethinking expansion plans as they struggle with rising fuel prices, geopolitical tensions and airspace disruptions.

What was expected to be one of the busiest travel seasons in recent years is increasingly turning into a period of caution for airlines and uncertainty for passengers.

The result is already being felt in the form of higher airfares, fewer available seats and a growing possibility of schedule changes on both domestic and international routes.

Why are airlines cutting flights?

Several major airlines, including IndiGo and Air India, have announced reductions in flights during the June-August travel period. Similar adjustments are being made by international airlines such as Emirates, Lufthansa, KLM and Norse Atlantic Airways. According to industry estimates, airlines worldwide have removed more than 75,000 flights from their summer 2026 schedules.

While airlines continue to see strong demand for travel, the cost of operating flights has risen sharply in recent months. Fuel prices remain high, airspace restrictions have forced airlines to take longer routes, and ongoing geopolitical tensions have added further uncertainty to flight planning.

For passengers, this means fewer flight options and potentially higher ticket prices, especially on popular domestic and international routes.

The fuel price issue persists

At the heart of the issue is aviation turbine fuel (ATF), one of the biggest expenses for any airline. With fuel accounting for up to 40 per cent of an airline's operating costs, recent tensions in West Asia have pushed oil and jet fuel prices significantly higher, increasing the financial burden on carriers worldwide.

Jet fuel prices have reportedly risen to between $4.50 and $4.90 per gallon, almost double the levels seen before the recent regional conflicts intensified. As airlines spend more on fuel, many are finding it difficult to maintain previous growth plans while remaining profitable.

Longer routes mean higher costs

The challenges are not limited to fuel prices alone. Ongoing conflict in parts of the Middle East has led to airspace restrictions and closures, forcing airlines to avoid certain regions and take longer routes to reach their destinations.

In some cases, flights are taking several hours longer than originally planned.

According to aviation analysts, some routes now require detours that add up to five extra hours of flying time. This not only increases fuel consumption but also creates scheduling challenges for airlines, affects crew duty limits and reduces the number of flights an aircraft can operate each day. For passengers, longer routes can sometimes mean extended travel times, revised schedules and higher fares.

IndiGo slows international expansion

IndiGo, has become one of the most visible examples of the current industry pressures. The carrier recently announced temporary suspensions of several international routes, including services to Langkawi, Krabi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Siem Reap between July and September.

The airline has also decided to end its Manchester service later this year and return one of its leased Boeing 787-9 aircraft. IndiGo said geopolitical tensions, rising fuel prices, foreign exchange volatility and airspace restrictions have significantly increased operating costs.

Despite these adjustments, the airline will continue operating more than 1,800 international flights every week, maintaining one of the largest international networks among Indian carriers.

Air India focuses on network stability

Air India has also announced significant schedule adjustments. The airline plans to reduce some international operations by about 27 per cent and cut up to 22 per cent of flights on selected domestic routes between June and August.

The changes affect services to destinations across Europe, North America, Australia and Asia. According to the airline, the objective is to improve network stability and reduce last-minute disruptions for passengers.

While some flights are being reduced, Air India will still operate more than 1,200 international flights every month.

Why airfares are rising?

The combination of strong travel demand and fewer available seats is creating a classic supply-and-demand imbalance. Simply put, more people want to travel than the number of seats currently available.

Airlines are therefore finding it easier to raise fares without seeing a significant drop in bookings.

InterGlobe Aviation Managing Director Rahul Bhatia recently acknowledged that higher fares are becoming necessary to offset rising operating costs. He noted that demand remains strong despite fare increases, suggesting that many travellers continue to book flights even as ticket prices rise.

For passengers, this means last-minute bookings are becoming increasingly expensive. Popular routes are often seeing fares climb rapidly as departure dates approach.

What travellers should expect

Passengers planning travel over the coming months may notice several changes. Flights on some routes may operate less frequently than before, reducing flexibility when choosing travel times. Certain international destinations may have fewer direct flight options, requiring longer connections.

Travellers may also experience occasional schedule changes as airlines continue adjusting operations in response to evolving geopolitical and economic conditions. While widespread disruptions are not expected, airlines are clearly prioritising operational stability over aggressive growth.

Industry experts say carriers are focusing on protecting their core networks and ensuring reliability rather than adding new flights or expanding rapidly.

The impact

Higher airfares affect more than just passengers. Travel agencies, tour operators, corporate travel managers and tourism destinations are all likely to feel the impact of rising travel costs.

Companies may face higher travel budgets for employee travel, while some leisure travellers could choose shorter trips, domestic destinations or alternative travel plans.

Travel agents in the Gulf region have already reported that some travellers are opting for local staycations instead of overseas holidays because of rising airfare costs.

Similar trends could emerge in other markets if ticket prices continue to increase.

Is there any relief?

The Indian government has introduced measures aimed at reducing the impact of fuel price volatility on airlines, including a ₹10,000 crore fuel stabilisation mechanism designed to help carriers manage sudden spikes in ATF costs. However, industry experts believe that airfare pressure is unlikely to disappear immediately.

Much will depend on fuel prices, geopolitical developments and whether airlines are able to restore capacity in the coming months. For now, the outlook remains clear, demand for travel remains strong, but airline capacity is becoming tighter.

Book early plan ahead

For passengers, the best strategy may be simple, book early and plan ahead.

With airlines reducing flights and maintaining strict control over capacity, waiting until the last minute could mean paying significantly higher fares or having fewer travel options.

As airlines navigate one of the most challenging operating environments in recent years, travellers should prepare for a summer season where flexibility, advance planning and careful monitoring of flight schedules become more important than ever.

For those planning holidays, family visits or business trips, the message from the aviation industry is increasingly clear, seats are still available, but they are becoming more expensive and potentially harder to find.