Air India to Resume Some International Flights Scrapped Due to Middle East Conflict – CEO Campbell Wilson Cites Easing Tensions and Lower Fuel Prices

Air India resumes international flights scrapped due to Middle East conflict

New Delhi, 28 June 2026 — Air India is considering restoring several international routes that were cancelled earlier due to the Middle East conflict, as improving regional stability has reopened more airspace and significantly reduced jet fuel costs, according to an internal memo from CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson.

The airline had previously scaled back operations on certain long-haul routes between June and August 2026 to avoid airspace restrictions and high fuel expenses caused by detours. With the situation calming, some of those cuts could soon be reversed.

What Campbell Wilson Said in the Internal Memo

In the memo cited by NDTV, Wilson noted:

'The violence in the Middle East has decreased, and while there is no guarantee it won't escalate again, the more stable situation has opened up additional airspace and led to a significant drop in fuel prices. If this trend persists, we may be able to restore some of the schedule reductions implemented in recent months.'

He emphasised that the earlier schedule adjustments were made to minimise last-minute disruptions for passengers and maintain network stability. Despite the reductions, Air India continued to operate more than 1,200 international flights per month across five continents.

Fleet Expansion and New Routes

Wilson also highlighted positive developments in Air India’s growth strategy:

• The airline expects to induct eight more new or refurbished wide-body aircraft into its fleet this year.

• A new Boeing 787-9 is scheduled to arrive in India this weekend, while another Boeing 787-8 is being retrofitted.

• Air India recently launched four weekly non-stop flights between Mumbai and Tokyo Haneda, in addition to its existing daily Delhi-Haneda service.

Air India Express, the airline’s low-cost subsidiary, will make history next month by operating the first international passenger flight from Navi Mumbai International Airport to Abu Dhabi. It will also add a Pune-Amritsar domestic service in August and launch direct flights from Guwahati to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Strong Operational Performance in June

Wilson praised the airline’s performance in June, describing it as Air India’s strongest month operationally:

• Overall on-time performance reached 86%.

• Domestic on-time performance hit a record 90%.

He attributed the strong results to continuous improvements in aircraft health, systems, and procedures, along with favourable weather and the temporarily reduced schedule.

Broader Context

The Middle East conflict had forced many airlines, including Air India, to reroute flights, leading to higher fuel consumption and operational costs. The easing of tensions has now created an opportunity for carriers to restore more direct and efficient routes, potentially benefiting passengers with better connectivity and lower fares in the coming months.

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