Conflict, fuel costs, and rerouted skies are pushing India’s flagship carrier to its limits
Air India is flying on fumes , literally. With the Iran conflict reshaping the skies over West Asia, India’s flagship carrier has grounded roughly 2,500 flights in three weeks, limping along at just 30% of its normal Middle East schedule. Closed airports, locked airspace, and safety thresholds have turned routine routes into a daily gamble.
The financial bleeding is real. Jet fuel costs have more than doubled, forcing the airline to slap surcharges on new tickets. Flights to Europe and North America are taking longer, costlier detours. CEO Campbell Wilson is urging restraint — cut unnecessary spending, stay safe, stay steady.
Yet amid the turbulence, silver linings flicker. Fresh demand is emerging in Western markets, and Wilson insists Air India will adapt. For now, every flight that lands safely is a quiet victory.
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