Air India to restore most flights from September after months of disruption

New Delhi: Air India will begin restoring most of the domestic and international capacity it has cut since April from September as geopolitical tensions ease, jet fuel prices stabilize and more aircraft return to service.

The move marks the airline’s first major capacity restoration after months of schedule cuts due to airspace closures in Pakistan and West Asia, aircraft shortages and longer flight times to Europe and North America.

“Most of the flights are already on sale from September onwards. They have never been withdrawn,” Nipun Aggarwal, Air India’s chief commercial officer, said on the sidelines of an event organized by the Federation of Indian Tourism and Hospitality Associations (FAITH) on Friday. he said.

Data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) showed that Tata-backed Air India’s international flights fell 22% year-on-year in April and May, while domestic flights decreased by around 5%. This excludes numbers from low-cost subsidiary Air India Express.

Aggarwal said geopolitical uncertainty remains the airline’s biggest operational risk. “Pakistan (the closure of airspace) is the biggest problem. We don’t have visibility on that. We’re trying to rebalance wherever we can,” he said, adding that reopening Iranian and Iraqi airspace would provide significant relief for the carrier’s westbound operations.

The closure of Pakistani airspace and the subsequent conflict in West Asia forced Air India to operate longer routes to Europe and North America, increasing fuel consumption and reducing aircraft usage. High aviation turbine fuel prices, which nearly doubled between late February and May, added to the pressure.

However, fuel prices have decreased in recent weeks. Average jet fuel prices fell to $127.06 per barrel in the week ending July 10, from $138.86 per barrel four weeks ago, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) weekly fuel monitor.

“It won’t be as bad as it was in March and April. I hope it doesn’t get to that level,” Aggarwal said.

Europe is expected to see the largest restoration; Many of the frequency cuts announced in May will likely be reversed. The airline had previously reduced services on routes such as Delhi-Paris, Delhi-Copenhagen, Delhi-Milan, Delhi-Vienna, Delhi-Zurich and Delhi-Rome.

DGCA data showed that Air India operated around 2,300 fewer international departures in April and May compared to the same period last year.

“Wherever we cut frequency, mostly everything will be back to normal. There may be one or two routes here and there. But overall, everything will be back to normal,” Aggarwal said. he said.

However, some North American routes will remain affected. Chicago will remain suspended for now, while Washington will continue to operate at lower frequencies as many Boeing 777 aircraft undergo cabin renovations.

The airline also retired several Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, while deliveries of new Boeing jets were also delayed, restricting fleet availability.

“We do not have the same number of planes. The plane we were supposed to buy has been delayed. Old planes have been retired,” Aggarwal said.

Delayed aircraft deliveries, fleet renewal program and supply chain constraints also reduced aircraft availability. The airline also faced intense regulatory scrutiny following the fatal Boeing 787 crash near Ahmedabad in June.

The cuts also put pressure on the airline’s finances. Air India expected to post losses of around $3 billion (more) ₹25,000 crore for FY26), but the private company is yet to announce its results. The airline is also preparing for a leadership change, with chairman Campbell Wilson stepping down in September.

While Air India ended FY25 with 180 aircraft, its low-cost subsidiary added 110 aircraft, taking the fleet to around 290 aircraft. According to industry executives, the current operating fleet is said to be around 220.

Despite the disruptions, passenger demand remained resilient, especially in the domestic market. Aggarwal expects airfares to moderate as capacity returns and fuel prices remain under control.

“As supply returns and oil prices fall, flight tickets must also decrease. We do not fix flight tickets. The market determines at what price point each ticket will be sold,” he said.

Air India’s ability to rebuild capacity from September will be a key test of its operational recovery, according to aviation analyst Mark D. Martin, managing director of consulting firm Martin Consulting.

“While easing geopolitical tensions will improve aircraft utilization, Air India’s biggest concern will be detours as a result of the closure of Pakistani airspace. This is where other European and Middle Eastern carriers have an advantage,” he said.

The pace of restoration will ultimately depend on Boeing’s on-time aircraft deliveries and the completion of the airline’s fleet renewal program, said Jainam Shah, aviation analyst at brokerage firm Equirus Securities.

“Any renewed tensions in West Asia could once again disrupt schedules and delay the return to normal operations,” he said.