Tata Group-backed Air India has temporarily suspended flights on six international routes and reduced frequencies across several overseas routes between June and August 2026 amid elevated Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices.

Notably, businessline was the first to report that Air India was planning to temporarily suspend flights to some key long-haul international destinations such as Chicago after discussions between airlines and oil marketing companies on international ATF pricing relief failed to yield any material outcome.

Besides high jet fuel prices, prolonged airspace restrictions along with geopolitical disruptions have impacted the airline’s international operations.

Suspended Routes

On Wednesday, Air India said the latest adjustments are aimed at improving network stability and minimising last-minute inconvenience to passengers during the peak travel season.

As part of the revised international schedule, Air India has suspended flights on six overseas routes through August.

These include Delhi–Chicago, Delhi–Shanghai, Chennai–Singapore, Mumbai–Dhaka, Delhi–Malé, and Mumbai–New York (JFK) services.

Furthermore, Delhi–Newark services will remain temporarily suspended during the period.

Despite these reductions, the airline said it will continue operating more than 1,200 international flights every month across five continents.

Functional Routes

This includes 33 weekly flights to North America, 47 weekly services to Europe, 57 weekly flights to the United Kingdom, eight weekly services to Australia, 158 weekly flights across the Far East, Southeast Asia and SAARC regions, as well as seven weekly services to Mauritius.

Meanwhile, Delhi–San Francisco services have been reduced from 10 weekly flights to seven weekly flights through August.

Similarly, Delhi–Toronto operations have been reduced from 10 weekly flights to five weekly flights through July before returning to daily operations from August.

Services between Delhi and Vancouver have also been reduced from seven weekly flights to five weekly flights.

As per the airline, Mumbai–Newark operations will increase from three weekly services to daily flights.

However, Delhi–New York (JFK) will continue operating as a daily service.

Europe and Australia

In Europe, Air India has reduced frequencies on several routes, including Delhi–Paris, where services have been reduced from 14 weekly flights to seven weekly flights.

Delhi–Copenhagen operations have also been reduced from four weekly flights to three weekly flights.

Accordingly, Delhi–Milan, Delhi–Vienna, Delhi–Zurich, and Delhi–Rome services have each been reduced by one weekly flight.

In Australia, both Delhi–Melbourne and Delhi–Sydney operations have been reduced from seven weekly services to four weekly services.

Frequency Drop

Additionally, Air India has undertaken significant frequency reductions across Southeast Asian and neighbouring markets.

Delhi–Singapore services have been reduced from 24 weekly flights to 14 weekly flights, while Mumbai–Singapore frequencies have been reduced from 14 weekly services to seven weekly services.

Likewise, Delhi–Bangkok flights will be reduced from 28 weekly services to 21 weekly services from July, while Mumbai–Bangkok operations will decline from 13 weekly services to seven weekly services.

Delhi–Kuala Lumpur services have been reduced from 10 weekly flights to five weekly flights.

In addition, Delhi–Ho Chi Minh City services will reduce from seven weekly flights to four weekly flights during July and August, while Delhi–Hanoi operations will decline from five weekly services to four weekly services during the same period.

SAARC Region

In the SAARC region, Delhi–Kathmandu services will reduce from 42 weekly flights to 28 weekly flights in June and further to 21 weekly services during July and August.

Delhi–Dhaka operations have been reduced from seven weekly services to four weekly services, while Mumbai–Colombo flights will decline from seven weekly services to four weekly services.

Also, Delhi–Colombo services have been reduced from 14 weekly flights to 12 weekly flights.

The airline said passengers affected by the suspensions and frequency cuts will be assisted with alternative flight arrangements, complimentary date changes, or full refunds, wherever applicable.

Air India added that it continues to work with regulators, airport authorities, and industry stakeholders to restore full operational capacity as conditions improve.

Credits: Air India

The post Air India Takes Action as Aviation Fuel Prices Continue to Soar first appeared on AircrewNews.com.

Delta’s first A350-900 was delivered in July 2017 (N501DN), while the most recent arrival took place in December 2025 (N5321DN). Nine of the airline’s 40 A350s were acquired from LATAM. They each had 339 seats, which was Delta’s highest-capacity offering. They had an inferior and less competitive hard product, including in business. As all nine frames have been retrofitted or are undergoing the process, only the 275-seat and 306-seat layouts exist now.

These Routes See The A350-900 Beginning In June

Cirium Diio was used to compare the SkyTeam member’s schedule between January 2025 and April 2026 with what’s available from May 2026 until December 2026. This process identified five additional A350 routes, two of which will see the variant in June. Only some of the airport pairs are new to its network.

Between June 2 and September 6, Delta will deploy the A350 between Detroit and Paris CDG. A real SkyTeam route, it’ll be the first time the Airbus widebody has been deployed since 2023. Flights on the 306-seat configuration will operate daily in June and July, three to five times a week in August, and daily for a brief spell in September. It’ll be on DL96 to France, which was operated by the A330-300 last year.

On June 6, Delta will lift off from Los Angeles to Hong Kong. Covering 6,309 nautical miles (11,684 km) each way and timed at up to 15h 45m, flights will run daily year-round on the 275-seat A350-900. This high-premium configuration has 40 fully flat beds in Delta One (1-2-1), 40 Premium Select recliners (2-4-2), 36 seats in Comfort+ (3-3-3; 34″ pitch), and 159 seats in main cabin (3-3-3; 31″ pitch).

Delta last served Hong Kong from Seattle. One-stop flights via its then-Tokyo Nartia hub existed between 2010 and 2014, followed by nonstop service until 2018. Joining Cathay Pacific and United from Los Angeles, it’ll be the first time three carriers have operated since American pulled out in 2020. Yet, United seems to underperform, hence extending its two daily flights to Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City to help fill up its aircraft. This is the challenging environment that Delta will face.

Three Routes Will See The A350 From September

Subject to the war in Iran and all the consequences spanning from that, Delta expects to reintroduce service from Atlanta to Tel Aviv on September 6. While flights are scheduled and bookable, they may be pushed back if the situation is insufficiently safe or otherwise unappealing. The A350 was last used on this long route in 2023. That was the first time the market had nonstop flights since 2011, when the 777 was used.

Currently, Delta plans three weekly flights to Tel Aviv. The 275-seat configuration is due to run until October 23. The next day, the higher-capacity but less premium 306-seat alternative will replace it, and operate through the rest of the northern aviation winter season.

Then there’s Atlanta to Riyadh, which is, of course, a brand-new route in the airline’s network. The first flight is due to take off on October 2023, with more details in the next section. Finally, on December 2, Delta will use the A350 from Atlanta to Milan Malpensa, but it’ll only operate until January 3. The 767-400ER operated in this period last year. Like some other entries, this route also last saw the A350 in 2023. But while it was previously on the ex-LATAM 339-seaters, it’ll now be on the much-improved 306-seat configuration.

Most Exciting, There’s Atlanta To Riyadh

he first flight in this brand-new market, which has never been served by any airline before, will take off on October 23. It will mark the first time that a US airline has flown to Saudi Arabia since TWA pulled out a quarter of a century ago, in 2001. It’ll also be Delta’s second destination in the Middle East, after Tel Aviv, although it previously flew to Amman, Dubai, and Kuwait.

As the existing market is tiny, it’ll rely even more than usual on connecting traffic. Despite this, Delta’s interest in this long route is driven by many things. They include massive funding from the Saudi Air Connectivity Program, its codeshare agreement with Saudia, and its strategic partnership with the country’s new flagship carrier, Riyadh Air. While the first week will have a daily service, flights will reduce to three times weekly thereafter. The 275-seat A350-900 is down to operate.

Credits: Delta Air

The post Delta Air Lines Launches 5 New Nonstop Airbus A350 Routes: See All Flights Now first appeared on AircrewNews.com.