Air India may restore international flights as Middle East airspace reopens

Air India is considering restoring some international flights after improving security conditions in the Middle East reopened more airspace and reduced pressure on long-haul operations.

The potential move follows temporary schedule reductions introduced for the June to August travel period, when airspace restrictions over parts of the Middle East forced aircraft to take longer routes to Europe and North America. Combined with higher international jet fuel prices, the diversions increased operating costs and affected network planning.

According to an internal memo from Air India Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Campbell Wilson, reviewed by NDTV on 28 June, the airline is now assessing whether some of those temporary reductions can be reversed if the current operating environment remains stable.

Operational conditions begin to improve

Air India had scaled back services on selected international routes after regional airspace restrictions disrupted normal flight paths.

Longer routings increased flight times, fuel burn and operating costs on several long-haul services. The airline said the temporary schedule changes were designed to protect network stability and reduce the likelihood of last-minute cancellations and disruptions for passengers.

According to the airline, more airspace has now become available as tensions in the region have eased. International jet fuel prices have also moderated, improving the economics of long-haul operations.

Wilson said these developments could allow Air India to restore part of the international capacity reduced earlier this year if current trends continue.

The airline has not disclosed which routes or frequencies are under review.

Why the schedule was reduced

Air India's earlier network adjustments were driven by operational and commercial considerations.

Key reasons included:

• Restricted airspace across parts of the Middle East.
• Longer flight paths for services to Europe and North America.
• Higher fuel consumption resulting from extended routings.
• Elevated international jet fuel prices, which increased operating costs.

Despite these challenges, the airline continued operating more than 1,200 international flights every month across five continents.

Network stability remained the priority

The airline said the temporary reductions were introduced to make schedules more predictable rather than risk widespread delays or cancellations.

By reducing selected frequencies in advance, Air India sought to improve aircraft utilisation and provide greater operational certainty during a period of heightened geopolitical uncertainty.

The approach also helped the carrier manage fleet deployment more efficiently while operating around evolving airspace restrictions.

Operational performance improves

The internal memo also highlighted improvements in Air India's operational performance during June.

According to Wilson:

• Overall on-time performance reached 86%.
• Domestic on-time performance rose to a record 90%.

Wilson attributed the improvement partly to the temporary schedule adjustments. He also credited stronger aircraft reliability, operational systems and internal procedures.

The performance marks one of the airline's strongest punctuality results during its ongoing transformation programme.

Restoration will depend on operating conditions

Air India has not announced a timeline for restoring any international services.

The airline indicated any decision will depend on whether access to Middle Eastern airspace continues to improve and fuel prices remain stable.

Industry observers note airlines operating between Asia, Europe and North America closely monitor geopolitical developments because even small changes in available airspace can significantly affect flight times, aircraft utilisation and operating costs.

Should current conditions persist, Air India may gradually reinstate some of the international frequencies removed for the summer schedule.