Air India has denied reports claiming that the airline cancelled all international flights until July because of fuel shortages, calling the speculation “false and baseless” even as it scales back some overseas operations amid rising costs.
“Malicious and fabricated claims circulating on certain platforms alleging that Air India has cancelled all international flights are completely false and baseless,” Air India Newsroom said in a post on X.
The clarification came after reports linked the airline’s recent international route cuts to an alleged wider operational crisis driven by soaring jet fuel prices.
Air India has, however, implemented reductions across parts of its international network for three months starting June as higher fuel costs and longer flying times hurt profitability on several routes.
Also Read: Air India terminates flights to multiple destinations as fuel price bites
The airline has suspended flights from Delhi to destinations including Chicago, Newark, Singapore and Shanghai as part of those temporary adjustments.
The pressure on Air India has intensified after the closure of Pakistani airspace forced several westbound flights onto longer routes, sharply increasing fuel consumption and crew costs.
Flights headed to Europe and North America are now taking extended flight paths, with some North America-bound services making technical stops at Vienna or Stockholm, adding to operational expenses.
The financial strain has worsened alongside a sharp spike in global jet fuel prices. Average jet fuel prices rose to $162.89 per barrel for the week ending May 8, 2026, from $99.40 at the end of February.
Fuel accounts for as much as 40% of an airline’s operating costs, making long-haul carriers particularly vulnerable to sudden increases in oil prices.
Last week, outgoing Air India chief executive officer Campbell Wilson told employees that the airline would continue trimming international services because rising fuel prices and airspace restrictions had made some routes unprofitable.
