Air India to Cut 100 Flights Daily: Reason—Rising Fuel Prices and Spare Parts Shortage; Routes to Australia, Europe, and the US to be Affected
Air India is set to reduce its international and domestic flight operations by approximately 10%. Starting with its winter schedule at the end of October, the Tata Group-owned airline will discontinue about 100 flights per day. Currently, the airline operates around 900 flights daily.
Decision Driven by Rising Fuel Prices and Spare Parts Shortage
The airline has taken this significant step due to the rising cost of jet fuel (ATF) and a shortage of spare parts for its aging fleet.
Currently, approximately 30 of Air India’s wide-body aircraft remain grounded due to a lack of spare parts and engines.
Although the airline has placed large orders for new aircraft with Boeing and Airbus, their delivery is still some time away.
Until then, the company is attempting to manage its flight schedule using only its currently available aircraft.
These International Routes Will Be Hit Hardest
According to sources, the airline has decided to reduce flight frequencies on several key international routes connecting India with North America, Europe, and Australia.
San Francisco, Chicago, London, and Sydney: Weekly flight frequencies to these cities will be curtailed.
Example: Routes that currently feature daily service may now operate flights on only four or five days a week.
Changes Also Expected in Domestic Network
Air India will also reduce flight frequencies on its domestic routes. The company plans to cut back on flights operating on “metro-to-metro” routes—those connecting major metropolitan cities—where multiple daily services are currently in operation.
This strategy will enable the airline to redeploy its aircraft to more profitable routes or keep them on standby, thereby helping to improve its On-Time Performance (OTP). **Views from Management and Experts**
A senior official stated that this decision was taken following a review of operational costs and aircraft availability.
Jet fuel prices have risen significantly over the past few months, rendering several long-haul routes unprofitable at their current frequencies.
Air India stated that it continuously reviews its flight schedule based on market demand and operational constraints to ensure efficient operations.
Aviation analysts estimate that ATF prices account for approximately 40% of an airline’s operating costs. Consequently, balancing growth with profitability during Air India’s transformation presents a major challenge for the Tata Group.
