Air India, IndiGo Cut Nearly 250 Daily Flights Between June and August; Flight Ticket Prices Likely to Climb

Air travellers across India may soon find it harder and more expensive to book flights, as the country's two largest airlines, Air India and IndiGo begin scaling back domestic operations during the coming months.

Air India and IndiGo Reduce Domestic Flights as Ticket Prices Surge; What It Means for Travellers

The combined reduction is expected to remove nearly 250 flights every day from the domestic aviation network starting June, tightening seat availability on several major routes at a time when ticket prices have already surged sharply.

Since these three airlines together account for nearly 90% of India's domestic passenger traffic, the cuts are likely to affect a large section of travellers, especially those flying between metro cities and high-demand regional destinations.

IndiGo Cuts Domestic Capacity by 5% Between June and August

IndiGo, India's largest airline by market share, is also trimming operations by around 5%, translating into nearly 110 fewer daily flights from its network of approximately 2,200 daily departures.

For passengers, this means fewer departure options, reduced flexibility in timings and potentially higher waitlists on busy sectors. Aviation analysts warn that the reduced supply of seats could further push up fares, especially on routes where demand remains steady despite the seasonal slowdown.

The capacity reduction comes at a time when airfares on several domestic sectors have already risen by 40-50% compared with normal levels. Travellers are also paying additional fuel surcharges ranging between Rs 400 and Rs 450 on many routes.

Airlines say the pressure is being driven primarily by rising aviation turbine fuel (ATF) costs. Domestic ATF prices have reportedly increased by nearly 25%, while fuel costs linked to international operations have surged even more due to geopolitical tensions and disruptions in West Asia.

Air India Reduces Overseas Services by Over 25%, Trims Flights From Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru

Air India has also announced significant cuts to its international operations. The airline plans to reduce over 25% of overseas services between June and August and has already suspended eight international routes until August 2026.

Currently, Air India operates around 4,400 weekly flights, including nearly 3,600 domestic and 800 international services. The airline has begun temporarily suspending select routes from Mumbai, including flights to Nagpur, Varanasi, Patna and Bhopal.

In addition, around 280 weekly departures from Mumbai are being withdrawn between June 1 and August 1. Further frequency reductions are expected across key aviation hubs such as Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Chennai.

The airline described the move as a temporary "rationalisation" aimed at managing operating costs during the weaker July-September demand period.

Airlines Cite Fuel Pressure and Weak Demand

Air India stated that the adjustments are being driven by elevated fuel prices and overall operational costs. The airline said it would continue reviewing market conditions and may restore frequencies once demand and costs stabilise.

IndiGo, on the other hand, is understood to be balancing weaker domestic demand by shifting focus toward stronger international routes where passenger traffic remains relatively healthy.

What Travellers Can Expect

Passengers booked on affected flights are likely to be offered alternative flights, complimentary rescheduling or full refunds, depending on availability and route changes.

However, for last-minute flyers and travellers on business-heavy routes, the reduced network may result in limited seat availability and steeper ticket prices over the coming weeks.

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