Air India has announced significant reductions to its international network for the current winter season, suspending services to multiple destinations in Europe and the United States. The carrier, which operates as India’s largest international airline, stated that the adjustments are designed to improve network stability and reduce last-minute disruptions for passengers.
Suspension of US and European Services
The airline has halted operations on several key routes. In the United States, Air India suspended its four weekly flights between Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). These flights previously operated via Vienna. The carrier initially cited continued airspace restrictions over certain regions and record-high jet fuel prices as the main reasons for the decision. While the suspension was originally scheduled to last from June 1 to August 31, the airline has since extended the halt, and aviation analytics data from Cirium shows no flights are currently scheduled on this route.
Alongside the Chicago suspension, Air India also suspended services between Delhi and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Although these flights did not resume as originally planned, the route is now scheduled to return in January 2027.
In Europe, the Star Alliance member has discontinued four specific routes. On October 31, the airline ended its four weekly flights between Delhi and Vienna International Airport (VIE). This leaves the Austrian capital without a nonstop connection to India. Data from Cirium indicates that approximately 173,500 passengers traveled between Vienna and Indian cities in 2025, with roughly 68,400 of those passengers using routes to and from Delhi. The Indian capital was Vienna’s largest Indian market.
Further cuts include the suspension of four weekly flights between Delhi and Copenhagen Airport (CPH). The airline also halted three-weekly flights between Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport (ATQ) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW). Additionally, Air India is scheduled to discontinue its three-weekly service between Delhi and Birmingham International Airport (BHX) starting November 4.
Impact of Fuel Prices and Network Restructuring
The escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East since late February have caused considerable volatility in global energy markets. By late October, jet fuel prices had reportedly exceeded $206 per barrel. This surge is adding significant pressure on airlines’ operating costs and is a primary factor behind the international network changes.
According to Cirium schedule data, Air India’s European seat capacity between November 2026 and March 2027 is down by approximately 12% compared with the same period a year earlier. The Delhi to Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) route has seen the sharpest reduction, with capacity dropping by around 50%. The airline has halved the frequency on this route from 14 to seven weekly flights.
Domestic changes are also underway, though these are largely transfers rather than cancellations. Air India has moved several domestic services to its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express. This move is part of a broader restructuring under the Tata Group, which took control of the former state-owned carrier in 2022. The group has consolidated its four airlines into two, merging Vistara into Air India and integrating AirAsia India, now renamed AIX Connect, into Air India Express. This restructuring allows the group to separate its full-service and low-cost operations, with several domestic routes previously served by the mainline carrier now operated exclusively by the budget subsidiary.
Source: Simple Flying
