Air India has announced a temporary reduction in flight services across Gujarat as rising aviation turbine fuel prices and increasing operational expenses continue to pressure airlines.
The move will particularly impact passengers travelling from Vadodara Airport and Rajkot, with multiple Air India flights connecting the cities to Delhi and Mumbai set to remain suspended during June and July.
According to the revised schedule, Air India’s AI-2866/2867 service on the Delhi-Vadodara route will remain cancelled from June 1 to July 31, 2026. Another service in the same sector, AI-1701/1808, will also be suspended from July 1 to July 31.
The cancellations mean Vadodara will temporarily lose two Air India-operated direct flights to Delhi during the peak monsoon travel season.
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Passengers likely to rely more on IndiGo
According to The Times of India, with Air India reducing operations, travellers from Vadodara are expected to become increasingly dependent on IndiGo for direct connectivity to the national capital.
Until now, AI-1701/1808 had operated daily in the morning slot, arriving from Delhi at 7.30 am and departing again at 8 am. The AI-2866/2867 service operated during evening hours on select weekdays and Sundays.
Despite the cuts, Vadodara will continue to have multiple Delhi connections through IndiGo services, along with Air India’s remaining AI-2881/2882 flight. The city will also remain connected to Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru through IndiGo-operated routes.
Aviation industry sources said the airline is reassessing route profitability and aircraft deployment as fuel expenditure continues to rise sharply.
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Rajkot flights also suspended
According to The Times of India, similar operational cutbacks are being witnessed in Rajkot, where Air India has decided to suspend its daily morning Rajkot-Delhi service and evening Rajkot-Mumbai flight for the entire month of June.
Travel agents in the region have warned that reduced capacity is already pushing fares upward, especially on high-demand routes. Some Delhi-Rajkot tickets have reportedly surged to nearly ₹19,000 on certain dates, compared to the usual fare range of ₹7,000 to ₹8,000.
Industry estimates suggest ticket prices across the affected sectors have increased by nearly 20 per cent in recent weeks.
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Rising fuel costs pressure airlines
The latest route rationalisation reflects the broader pressure facing Indian airlines as aviation turbine fuel prices and operational expenses continue to climb.
Airlines have increasingly been adjusting schedules, consolidating routes, and optimising fleet deployment to manage costs while maintaining profitability.
