Overview
- India’s Civil Aviation Ministry, which briefed reporters Tuesday, said carriers have canceled more than 10,000 international flights since February 28 and cut India–Gulf services to roughly 80–90 a day.
- The regulator has relaxed pilot duty-time limits through April 30, lifting allowable flight time to about 11.5 hours to keep long-haul reroutes staffed and schedules stable.
- The government capped the April 1 increase in domestic jet fuel to 25% and let Emirates, Kuwait Airways and Jazeera use passenger aircraft for cargo to protect supply chains.
- Industry leaders said Wednesday that jet fuel remains scarce and costly even after this week’s ceasefire, which means surcharges and trimmed schedules are likely to stay for weeks.
- With about half of Indian carriers’ international traffic tied to the Gulf, the lost routes and longer detours to Europe and North America mean fewer seats, longer trips and higher fares for travelers.