Rajkot: Rising aviation turbine fuel prices have forced Air India to prune operations across Gujarat, with Rajkot losing key Delhi and Mumbai flights in June and Vadodara facing a reduction in Delhi connectivity for June and July, worsening air links from Saurashtra and central Gujarat and pushing fares higher.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 every day from Rajkot airport.The Delhi-bound flight departs Rajkot at 10am. Its suspension will leave the city with only one morning service to the national capital. The Mumbai flight, which departs at 6pm, will also remain off the schedule for the month.Travel agent Sanjay Mehta said the move was part of a wider rationalization exercise. “Air India is rationalizing its operations across sectors due to high fuel prices. This decision will hurt travellers who are already struggling with uncertain air connectivity and higher airfares,” he said, adding that Rajkot was not an unproductive sector and flights were running with 100% 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.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%.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.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.“These flights are crucial for international connectivity and domestic business travel,” Vaishnav said, adding that the Rajkot–Delhi service, in particular, allowed businessmen to complete work during the day and return by evening.
