Air India Suspends Direct Flights to Dhaka

Darwin, 15 May: India’s state-owned airline Air India has announced major changes to several international routes, including the temporary suspension of direct flights between Mumbai and Dhaka.

According to Indian media outlet NDTV, the decision was taken due to record-high jet fuel prices and various restrictions on international air routes.

Alongside the Mumbai-Dhaka route, the airline has also reduced the number of flights operating between Delhi and Dhaka.

Air India said the move is aimed at maintaining network stability during the busy summer travel season from June to August this year and reducing passenger disruptions caused by sudden flight cancellations.

The changes are being viewed as a major setback for Bangladeshi travelers.

Under the revised schedule, the direct Mumbai-Dhaka service has been completely suspended temporarily. Previously, flights on the Delhi-Dhaka route operated daily, but services have now been reduced to four days a week.

The airline has also significantly reduced flight frequencies to other SAARC destinations, including Kathmandu and Colombo. Meanwhile, flights between Delhi and Malé will remain suspended until August due to maintenance work.

The biggest changes have come on long-haul routes to North America and Europe. Due to restrictions on the use of certain airspaces, airlines are being forced to take longer routes, increasing fuel consumption and operational costs.

As a result, Air India has temporarily suspended flights on the Delhi-Chicago, Delhi-Newark, and Mumbai-New York routes. In Europe, daily flights on the Delhi-Paris route have been cut in half, while weekly frequencies to Copenhagen, Milan, Vienna, and Rome have also been reduced.

Similar reductions have been seen on routes to Southeast Asia and Australia. Fewer flights to Bangkok, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur may create difficulties for summer holiday travelers. Flights to Melbourne and Sydney will now operate four times a week instead of daily.

Air India said affected passengers would be accommodated on alternative flights where possible. Passengers may also choose to change their travel dates free of charge or request refunds.