Air India Trims North American Flights Amid Rising Costs

India-West News Desk

NEW YORK, NY – Air India is scaling back a significant portion of its long-haul operations to North America through July 2026, as rising fuel costs and extended flight paths continue to erode profitability on transcontinental routes.

In a message to employees, Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson said the airline had already trimmed some services in April and May, but worsening operating conditions have forced deeper cuts in the months ahead. He pointed to a sharp increase in aviation fuel prices and longer flight durations as key pressures, particularly affecting routes connecting India with the United States and Canada.

The reductions are part of a broader pullback impacting around 100 international services, with several North America routes among the most affected due to their distance and higher operating costs. Flights linking major Indian cities with destinations such as New York, San Francisco, Toronto, and Vancouver have become increasingly expensive to operate under current conditions.

Air India said the challenges stem from a combination of volatile global oil markets and ongoing geopolitical restrictions. Aviation turbine fuel prices have surged amid uncertainty over supply routes, including concerns surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a critical النفط transit corridor.

At the same time, restricted access to parts of West Asian airspace has forced airlines to take longer alternate routes. For North America-bound flights, these detours can add significant flying time, increasing fuel burn, crew duty hours, and overall operating expenses.

Wilson noted that these compounded pressures have made several long-haul routes financially unsustainable in the short term