Rajkot: Rising aviation turbine fuel prices have forced Air India to reduce operations across Gujarat, with Rajkot losing key flights to Delhi and Mumbai in June and Vadodara facing reduced connectivity to Delhi in June and July. This has worsened air links from Saurashtra and central Gujarat and pushed fares higher.
Flight suspensions in Rajkot
Airport sources said Air India informed authorities that it will suspend its daily morning Rajkot–Delhi flight and evening Rajkot–Mumbai flight for the entire month of June, citing technical reasons. Both services currently operate daily from Rajkot airport. The Delhi-bound flight departs Rajkot at 10 am, and its suspension will leave the city with only one morning service to the national capital. The Mumbai flight, which departs at 6 pm, will also remain off the schedule for the month.
Impact on passengers
Travel agent Sanjay Mehta said the move was part of a wider rationalization exercise. He noted that Air India is rationalizing its operations across sectors due to high fuel prices. This decision will hurt travelers who are already struggling with uncertain air connectivity and higher airfares. Mehta added that Rajkot was not an unproductive sector, as flights were running with 100 percent occupancy. Passengers rely heavily on these services for domestic travel and international connections via Delhi and Mumbai. With the suspensions, many may be forced to reschedule trips, while some could have to arrive a day earlier and incur hotel expenses to catch onward flights.
Rising airfares
Travel agents said reduced capacity has already driven fares sharply higher. On some dates, Delhi-Rajkot tickets have touched nearly Rs 19,000, compared with the usual Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000. Industry estimates put the overall rise in airfares at around 20 percent.
Impact on Vadodara
The impact of Air India’s fuel-driven cutbacks is also being felt in Vadodara. There, the airline has cancelled flight AI-2866/2867 on the Delhi-Vadodara sector from June 1 to July 31, 2026, and will suspend AI-1701/1808 from July 1 to July 31, 2026. The move will leave Vadodara passengers largely dependent on IndiGo flights for direct Delhi connectivity during the monsoon peak.
Reaction from business community
The Rajkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) has expressed strong disapproval of the cuts. RCCI president V P Vaishnav said the body has taken up the matter with the Union civil aviation minister and the chairman of Air India, urging them to continue the services. Vaishnav emphasized that these flights are crucial for international connectivity and domestic business travel, adding that the Rajkot–Delhi service, in particular, allowed businessmen to complete work during the day and return by evening.
