Air India Archives - National Times

14 May

Air India to Suspend 400 International Flights Monthly Amid Fuel Cost Surge and West Asia Tensions

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, India, TrendingAir India

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): India’s aviation sector is beginning to feel the strain of the escalating crisis in West Asia, with soaring crude oil prices and airspace restrictions forcing airlines to rethink their operations. In response to the mounting pressure, Air India has announced a temporary reduction in its international flight schedule for the upcoming summer months. The airline confirmed on Wednesday that nearly 400 international services will be withdrawn every month between June and August 2026. The decision comes as carriers across the globe grapple with rising aviation turbine fuel prices triggered by instability in the Middle East and…

02 May

Air India to cut international flights till July amid fuel crisis, airspace restrictions

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaAir India

Rajeev Sharma :- Tata Airlines Air India has announced reduction in international flights till July amid souring jet fuel prices and airspace restriction following Middle East crisis. Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson said that surge in jet fuel prices have made many routes unprofitable. In a message to staff, Wilson said the airline had already cut back some international services during April and May due to operational challenges caused by the conflict in the Middle East. “We have reduced some flying for April and May," Wilson said, adding that the “massive rise in jet fuel prices", combined…

07 Apr

Air India Hikes Fuel Surcharge After IndiGo Move as Jet Fuel Prices Surge

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaAir India, airline ticket prices India, ATF price surge, fuel surcharge hike, IndiGo airfare increase

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Air India group on Tuesday announced a fresh increase in fuel surcharge for both domestic and international flights, days after IndiGo raised similar charges, indicating a broader rise in airfares amid a sharp spike in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices.The move comes as global jet fuel prices continue to surge, significantly increasing operational costs for airlines. According to the International Air Transport Association, jet fuel rates have nearly doubled within a month, marking one of the steepest hikes in recent years.For domestic travel, Air India will implement a distance-based fuel surcharge starting April 8, replacing…

05 Apr

Air India Extends Suspension of New Delhi-Tel Aviv Flights Until May 31

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaAir India, Flight Suspension, Indian diaspora, Israel Conflict, New Delhi-Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv Flights, West Asia War

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Air India has officially extended the suspension of its flight operations between New Delhi and Tel Aviv until May 31, 2026, amid the intensifying conflict in West Asia. An airline executive confirmed the decision on Sunday, citing the volatile security situation in the region as the primary reason for the prolonged hiatus. This move follows a series of disruptions that began after joint military actions by the US and Israel against Iran on February 28, which subsequently triggered a broader regional escalation affecting key energy supply chains and transit routes like the Strait of Hormuz. The…

05 Apr

Airlines Scale Back Gulf Routes as Air India Limits Flights, Keeps Core Links Intact

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, TrendingAir India

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): In response to shifting operational dynamics in West Asia, the Air India Group has streamlined its services for Sunday, planning to run 32 flights across the region with a reduced number of additional or special services. A portion of these flights—12 in total—will operate as non-scheduled services, largely focused on routes connecting India with the United Arab Emirates. These services remain conditional on slot approvals and prevailing airspace conditions, airline officials said. Despite the adjustment, connectivity to key Gulf hubs continues. Dubai will remain accessible via a Delhi service operated by Air India, while Air India…

02 Apr

Air India to Begin Daily Flights Between Delhi and Halwara from May 15, Boosting Punjab Connectivity

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, Punjab, TrendingAir India

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): In a significant boost to regional air travel, Air India has announced the launch of four daily flights connecting Delhi with Halwara airport near Ludhiana, starting May 15. The move marks the airline’s debut operations at Halwara, making it the first carrier to service this route. The flights will be operated using Airbus A320 family aircraft, with schedules tailored to suit business travellers and those seeking seamless onward connections. The timings have been strategically planned to allow passengers to complete same-day trips and easily link to international flights via Delhi. According to the announced schedule, the…

20 Mar

Air India Vancouver Flight Turns Back After Seven Hours Due to Aircraft Approval Lapse

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, World NewsAir India, aircraft approval, Boeing 777, Delhi Airport, flight return, operational lapse, Vancouver

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): A major administrative oversight forced a Vancouver-bound Air India flight to return to New Delhi on Thursday evening after being airborne for more than seven hours. The Boeing 777-200 LR (registration VT-AEI) was flying through Chinese airspace when it was discovered that the specific aircraft model was not approved for this particular route under Canadian aviation requirements. Sources indicate that a failure to update the list of operational requirements for Canada led to the deployment of the wrong aircraft type. According to industry insiders, the Delhi-Vancouver service was specifically cleared to be operated using a Boeing 777-300…

04 Feb

Air India and IndiGo Planes Brush Wingtips in Minor Ground Incident at Mumbai Airport

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAir India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, ground incident, IndiGo, Mumbai airport, wingtip contact

Mumbai (Rajeev Sharma): Two passenger aircraft operated by Air India and IndiGo were involved in a minor ground incident at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Tuesday, when the wingtips of the two planes came into contact during routine taxiing operations. Authorities confirmed that no passengers or crew members were injured and all those on board are safe. The incident occurred while Air India flight AI 2732, scheduled to fly to Coimbatore, was stationary on a taxiway awaiting take-off clearance. At the same time, IndiGo flight 6E 791, which had just arrived from Hyderabad, was taxiing towards its designated parking…

02 Jan

Air India Pilot Removed from Duty After Alcohol Breach at Vancouver Airport

nishuthapar10 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingAir India, Vancouver

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): Air Canada’s transport regulator has asked Air India to conduct a thorough investigation after a pilot reportedly arrived for duty under the influence of alcohol, failing two breathalyzer tests at Vancouver International Airport. The incident caused a last-minute delay to a Vancouver–Delhi flight on December 23. The pilot was asked to leave the aircraft, and Canadian authorities performed breath tests that the pilot did not pass, a source familiar with the matter said, requesting anonymity. Transport Canada described the episode as “serious” in a letter to the airline and indicated that enforcement actions could follow depending on…

01 Jan

Air India Grounds Pilot After Canadian Authorities Flag Fitness Concerns Ahead of Vancouver–Delhi Flight

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAir India, Canadian authorities, pilot grounded, Vancouver–Delhi flight

New Delhi, January 1, 2026: Air India on Thursday confirmed that one of its pilots has been taken off flying duties after Canadian authorities raised concerns over his fitness to operate a Vancouver–Delhi flight last month, leading to a last-minute delay. According to the airline, the incident occurred on December 23, 2025, when Flight AI186 from Vancouver to Delhi was preparing for departure. One of the cockpit crew members was deplaned shortly before take-off after Canadian authorities flagged issues related to the pilot’s fitness for duty. In a statement, Air India said the pilot was subjected to further inquiry by…