Air India has decided to reduce up to 22 per cent of its domestic flights between June and August 2026 as the airline faces rising operational costs linked to high fuel prices, according to sources. The latest Air India flight reduction comes after the carrier had already trimmed nearly 27 per cent of its international operations, marking a major network adjustment for the loss-making airline.

The airline currently operates around 4,400 weekly flights, including nearly 3,600 domestic services and about 800 international flights.

“In continuation of our previously announced adjustments to select international services between June and August 2026, we have temporarily rationalised operations on certain domestic routes during the same period, with a reduction in frequencies on select routes,” Air India said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Sources said the domestic flight cuts could range between 20 and 22 per cent across select sectors.

The airline attributed the move to the sustained impact of high aviation fuel prices, which continue to put pressure on airline operations globally. Air India said it will closely monitor demand trends and operational conditions before restoring frequencies.

“These adjustments are driven by the sustained impact of high fuel prices on overall operations. Air India will continue to monitor demand and operating conditions closely, with a view to restoring frequencies as conditions stabilise,” the airline said.

The latest Air India news highlights the growing financial strain on airlines due to elevated fuel costs. Aviation turbine fuel remains one of the biggest operational expenses for carriers, and the current price environment has forced airlines to reassess route profitability and capacity deployment.

The reduction in both domestic and international flights is expected to impact passenger schedules during the peak travel period between June and August.

With PTI inputs