Passenger flights cut in Asia

Airlines in Asia are cutting passenger flights as jet fuel costs jump and bookings soften on some routes. (thehindubusinessline.com) The pullback is already visible on South Asia routes. The Hindu BusinessLine reported that Air India and IndiGo reduced flights to Dhaka, while Air India Express dropped its only Bengaluru-Kathmandu service in April and airlines also trimmed frequencies to Thailand. (thehindubusinessline.com) The cuts are landing as India’s summer schedule shrinks. A senior Directorate General of Civil Aviation official told Press Trust of India that airlines will operate about 10% fewer domestic flights in the March 29 to October 24, 2026 schedule than a year earlier, or a little over 23,000 weekly services instead of 25,610. (economictimes.indiatimes.com) Fuel is the biggest line item behind the retrenchment. The International Air Transport Association’s jet fuel monitor said the global average jet fuel price for the week ended April 3 was about $209 a barrel, up from about $195 a week earlier. (iata.org; omanobserver.om) When passenger flights are cut, cargo space disappears too. Most urgent shipments ride in the belly of passenger aircraft rather than on dedicated freighters, and BusinessLine reported that this capacity becomes less dependable when airlines trim schedules. (thehindubusinessline.com) That squeeze is spreading beyond India. Reuters reported on April 7 that airlines across Asia were cutting flights, carrying extra fuel from home airports, and adding refueling stops as tighter fuel supply compounded the rise in prices. (in.marketscreener.com) Some carriers have put dates on the reductions. Reuters reported on April 11 that Cathay Pacific would cut some flights from mid-May through the end of June because of surging jet fuel costs. (msn.com) Freight forwarders are warning shippers to expect higher rates and tighter space. Dimerco’s April Asia-Pacific freight report said fuel spikes typically lead to fuel surcharges, reduced flight frequencies, and earlier cargo bookings as capacity tightens. (lp.dimerco.com) Airlines are still selling seats, but they are doing it with fewer flights and higher costs. Until fuel prices ease or demand firms up, the most fragile routes are likely to stay under pressure. (thehindubusinessline.com; iata.org)