Air India Cuts 100 Daily Flights as Fuel Costs Rise

Air India is cutting around 100 flights a day as rising jet fuel prices squeeze its operations. The steepest reductions hit long-haul routes to Europe, North America, Australia, and Singapore, the airline's highest-revenue international corridors. The Federation of Indian Airlines has warned the government that more carriers could suspend services unless fuel cost relief arrives soon. Jet fuel is the single largest cost for any airline, typically accounting for 30-40% of operating expenses. When prices spike sharply, long-haul international routes, which burn far more fuel per flight, become the fastest targets for cuts. Air India's move signals the cost pressure has crossed a threshold where flying those routes is no longer commercially viable at current fares. For travelers, fewer daily flights means tighter seat availability and likely higher fares on the affected corridors, particularly during peak travel periods. For Air India, shrinking capacity risks ceding ground to rival carriers on routes it has been rebuilding since its privatization. Watch for whether the government responds with fuel tax relief or subsidy measures, and whether other Indian carriers follow with similar cuts.