Air India Cuts International Flights Amid Rising Fuel Prices
New Delhi: The Congress party criticized the central government on Sunday following reports that Air India is planning to reduce its international flight schedules until July due to soaring jet fuel prices. The party labeled this situation as a result of “gross mismanagement” and accused the government of neglecting India’s economic welfare.
In a post on X, the Congress party stated, “The level of mismanagement in our country is alarming. Imagine India’s second-largest airline halting international flights for several months.” They expressed concerns about the long-term ramifications for the nation’s aviation sector.
The opposition party further claimed that the government is more focused on winning regional elections rather than addressing significant issues affecting the economy.
On Saturday, Air India declared cuts to its flight schedules and hinted at more reductions in the coming months. According to CEO Campbell Wilson, a massive increase in jet fuel prices, coupled with airspace limitations and longer flight paths, has rendered many international routes unfeasible.
Wilson highlighted that the airline had already scaled back some flights for April and May due to the dramatic rise in fuel costs. He pointed out that these conditions have made many international operations unprofitable. He referred to the current climate as “extremely challenging,” necessitating further adjustments to flight schedules for June and July.
While domestic flights have also faced challenges, the impact has been less severe. Wilson noted that the limited cap on domestic fuel price hikes, set at 25% by the government, has helped mitigate some of the effects on domestic operations.
To manage rising expenses, Air India has implemented fare increases and fuel surcharges. However, Wilson cautioned that while these measures are necessary, raising fares too high could discourage passengers from flying. “We can only go so far with price hikes before customers decide it’s not worth it,” he explained.
