Air India to Resume Most Suspended Flights in September and Pursue Expansion Plans

Air India’s Chief Commercial Officer Nipun Aggarwal said the airline expects to restore the bulk of flights it suspended during the summer, with most schedules already on sale for September 2026. The recovery follows a difficult period marked by the closure of Pakistan’s airspace, West‑Asia airspace restrictions, fleet retrofits, delayed deliveries and the fallout from the AI‑171 Dreamliner crash, which forced a 10‑15% cut in domestic capacity and significant international reductions.

Aggarwal also noted that as capacity returns and jet‑fuel prices stabilize, airfares should ease from the recent surge. Despite heavy financial losses—over 27,000 crore rupees in FY 2026‑27—the Tata‑owned carrier remains committed to its five‑year transformation, which includes ordering roughly 770 new aircraft (470 in 2023 and 300 in 2024) and anticipating 50‑60 deliveries in the next 18 months. The plan aims to double capacity, add new long‑haul routes and connect major world cities, while the airline continues to manage ongoing challenges such as the unresolved Pakistani airspace closure.