Major airline cancels flights to 6 popular European destinations this year

2 hours ago 1

Air India is scaling back flights to six European cities through August, as soaring jet fuel prices and airspace restrictions cause problems

03:44, Thu, May 14, 2026 Updated: 04:14, Thu, May 14, 2026

A passenger stranded at Terminal-3 Delhi airport after his flight for Kuwait is cancelled due to airspace restrictions over Iran

A passenger stranded at Terminal-3 Delhi airport after his flight for Kuwait is cancelled due to airspace restrictions over Iran and parts of the Middle East on March 1, 2026 (file image) (Image: Arvind Yadav/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

A leading airline has revealed it is cutting back services to six European destinations this year.

Air India is preparing to reduce its international flight schedule through August, as surging jet fuel costs and ongoing airspace restrictions make several routes difficult to maintain.

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The US and Iran have been embroiled in conflict since February 28, when the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on several key Iranian targets.

Iran responded by attacking sites across the Middle East and closing the crucial Strait of Hormuz trade route.

The cuts could affect up to 100 flights daily, with routes linking India and North America facing the heaviest reductions. The move comes amid wider financial pressures throughout the aviation sector.

In recent correspondence with the government, the carrier emphasised mounting financial pressure from rising fuel costs and ongoing airspace constraints, warning of significant strain across operations.

Two key factors are driving the reductions: higher fuel costs and longer routes. Jet fuel prices have risen sharply, pushing up the cost of running long-haul services.

At the same time, airspace restrictions linked to the West Asia conflict have forced airlines to avoid certain areas, adding substantial distance to many international routes.

Below are the European cities which will see a reduction in Air India flights.

An Air India commercial airplane is depicted mid-flight with landing gear deployed, against a cloudy sky background. The aircraf

Air India Airbus A350-900 aircraft spotted flying for landing at the runway of London Heathrow Airport LHR in the United Kingdom. The modern and advanced wide body airplane has the registration tail number VT-JRI and is powered by 2x RR Trent XWB jet engines. The A350 passenger plane is arriving from Delhi DEL AI111 a long haul flight. Air India is the flag carrier airline of India with a fleet of 142 aircraft, owned by Air India Limited a Tata Group enterprise with main hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, member of Star Alliance aviation group. September 11, 2024 (Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images) (Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Copenhagen