Air India is considering reversing cuts to several international routes after easing tensions in the Middle East opened up more airspace and pushed jet fuel prices lower, according to an internal memo by Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Campbell Wilson cited in reports on 28 June. The airline had scaled back overseas operations on select routes between June and August due to airspace restrictions and elevated fuel costs driven by the regional conflict.

What Wilson's Memo Said

In the internal communication, Wilson noted that conditions on the ground have shifted meaningfully. 'The violence in the Middle East has subsided, and although there is no assurance that it won't worsen, the calmer climate has made more airspace available, and fuel prices have considerably decreased,' he reportedly wrote. 'We might be able to reverse some of the timetable cuts we made in recent months if this trend continues,' the memo added.

The airline clarified that the earlier schedule reductions were a deliberate measure to minimise last-minute disruptions for passengers and preserve network stability, while still operating more than 1,200 international flights a month across five continents.

Fleet Expansion Under Way

Wilson's memo also outlined Air India's ongoing fleet build-up. The carrier expects to induct eight more new or refurbished wide-body aircraft into its fleet this year. A Boeing 787-8 is currently undergoing retrofitting, while a new Boeing 787-9 was scheduled to arrive in India this weekend. The additions are part of a broader push to modernise the airline's long-haul capabilities following its privatisation.

New Routes and Network Additions

Separately, Air India has expanded its international network with four weekly non-stop flights between Mumbai and Tokyo Haneda, complementing its existing daily Delhi–Haneda service. Air India Express is set to become the first airline to operate a direct international passenger flight from Navi Mumbai International Airport — to Abu Dhabi — next month. The low-cost arm will also add a Pune–Amritsar domestic service in August, alongside its first direct flights from Guwahati to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Operational Performance at a Record High

June marked Air India's strongest operational month on record, according to Wilson. The airline posted an overall on-time performance of 86 per cent, with domestic on-time performance reaching a record 90 per cent. Wilson cautioned, however, that the numbers were 'somewhat aided by our temporarily shortened schedule (and good weather)' and that sustained improvement would depend on 'continuous improvements in aircraft health, systems, focus, and procedures.'

With airspace constraints easing and fuel costs declining, Air India's next move on international schedules will be closely watched by travellers on European and American routes that bore the brunt of the earlier cuts.