Air India Canada Flights Reduction Hike As Jet Fuel Prices Soar

Travelers between Canada and India are facing a summer of “fewer options and higher fares” as Air India joins a growing list of global carriers cutting capacity.

The airline has significantly reduced its flight volume on key routes, citing a “massive rise” in jet fuel prices and the increased cost of navigating longer routes due to current airspace closures. According to aviation data tracker Cirium, round-trip flights between Toronto and Delhi dropped to just 31 in May, a sharp 35% decline from the 48 flights operated in March.

The scale-back is part of a broader strategy by Air India CEO Campbell Wilson to mitigate losses from international long-hauls that have become unprofitable. In an internal memo, Wilson noted that the combination of soaring fuel costs and the need for longer flying routes—necessitated by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf tensions—has forced the airline’s hand. While the carrier has imposed fuel surcharges, Wilson warned that there is a limit to how much fares can rise before “people decide to stay home.”

The Impact on Canadian Travelers

For the 1.4 million residents of Indian descent in Canada, the timing is particularly challenging. Vancouver-Delhi services have been trimmed from daily flights to just five per week. This reduction in supply has sent ticket prices skyrocketing; average round-trip economy fares between Canada and Delhi jumped 24% year-over-year to approximately $1,963 by late April. This increase significantly outpaces the 11% average rise seen in international flights globally.

A Growing Industry Crisis

Air India is not alone in its retreat. The global energy shock has prompted Air Canada and WestJet to also scrap routes deemed “no longer economically feasible.” Air Canada recently halted several seasonal and cross-border services, while WestJet announced capacity cuts of up to 6% for June.

With fuel prices hovering close to double the rates seen before the recent conflict in the Middle East, the aviation industry is bracing for a difficult summer season defined by consolidated schedules and premium pricing.