India airlines cut 12 percent June flights as Air India, IndiGo shrink networks, Noida International Airport set to open – Firstpost

Come June, airlines in India will significantly shrink their networks. Data shared by aviation analytics company Cirium shows that Indian skies will see 12 per cent fewer flights next month compared to this month. This will lead to an 11.6 per cent reduction in seats in the market and a 12 per cent drop in capacity by Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs) on the domestic front.

The domestic squeeze follows a significant reduction in Air India’s international network starting in June, which is currently announced to last until August. Overall, compared to last June, the market will shrink by 7 per cent in terms of departures and 3.7 per cent in available seats. The milder drop in seat capacity is due to higher-capacity aircraft inducted by airlines over the last year, driven by IndiGo’s focus on the A321 and Akasa Air’s induction of the high-density 737 MAX 8-200. Overall, domestic skies will have around 400 fewer flights a day.

This contraction comes during the same month that a
major new airport enters commercial service. The Noida International Airport at Jewar is scheduled to start operations on June 15 after a delay of nearly two years, becoming the third airport in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Air India cancels a quarter of its network

Tata-owned Air India, which has been in the news for posting over Rs 25,000 crores in losses last financial year, is
shrinking the most by culling a quarter of its network. The airline has scheduled 2,655 weekly domestic flights, down 882 flights sequentially from the current month’s 3,537 weekly flights. Compared to last June, the drop is even steeper at 28.2 per cent.

Air India previously amended its network and curtailed flights following the
deadly crash of AI 171 in June 2025. While the airline has historically shifted some of its capacity to its subsidiary, Air India Express, this time around Air India Express is also cutting back. The low-cost arm proposes to operate 10 per cent fewer flights in June compared to May, with a similar shrinking compared to last June.

Air India’s cuts will see the carrier concede ground to IndiGo on the lucrative and busy Mumbai-Delhi sector. Air India is currently the capacity leader on India’s busiest route, but this reduction will put IndiGo in the pole position.

Market leader
IndiGo is also shrinking, registering a sequential fall of 10 per cent over the current month. IndiGo adjusted its network last year as well, lowering frequencies and flights during the non-peak quarter of July, August and September. However, IndiGo is pulling back even further this year, marking a 2.4 per cent drop compared to last June.

Meanwhile, Akasa Air will shrink by 5.5 per cent while SpiceJet will contract by 16 per cent on a sequential basis. Compared to last June, Akasa Air is the only major airline growing its footprint, with an 11 per cent increase in flights this June. Conversely, SpiceJet’s shrinking brings it down to just 80 domestic departures a day. For reference, IndiGo, the country’s largest carrier, is scheduled to operate over 1,800 domestic flights a day.

Most impacted airports

The airline cancellations are not evenly spread as carriers attempt to realign market demand and supply. Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi will see the maximum impact in absolute numbers, with weekly domestic flights dropping by 383, 322, and 303 respectively from this month to next.

Gondia will see a temporary suspension of services, while Rupsi will witness a 75 per cent drop in weekly flights. A whole host of other airports—including Tezu, Deoghar, Shillong, Belgaum, Agra, Pasighat, Pondicherry, Hisar, Mysore, and Cuddapah—will see a quarter of their total flights slashed.

Tail note

Over the last few years, a seasonal reduction has been the norm across Indian carriers. However, this sharp reduction, especially at Air India, signifies the severe headwinds the group faces amidst massive losses. Its Vihaan.AI turnaround plan has been all but silently pulled as the group awaits the announcement of its next CEO. The transition comes after the
incumbent decided to step down, having first expressed his desire to move out back in 2024. Compounding the airlines’ woes, leading corporations have already announced efforts to cut back on business travel.

The
Indian aviation sector is grappling with severe macroeconomic headwinds, forcing airlines to significantly cut capacity, particularly during the traditionally weak June-August non-peak season. Geopolitical conflicts have been the central disruptor, immediately curtailing international departures as the key West Asia corridor became restricted. While the government has cushioned the blow by helping cap domestic jet fuel price increases to 25 per cent thus far, this relief may not be permanent.