Indian airlines are set to significantly scale back their operations in the upcoming summer schedule starting March 29, 2026, as the escalating West Asia crisis and surging fuel prices strain the aviation sector. Industry sources indicate that weekly services will drop by approximately 3,000 flights—a nearly 12% reduction compared to the previous year—bringing the total down from 25,610 to roughly 22,600 flights per week. This capacity cut is driven by a sharp rise in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) costs and a weakening rupee, alongside geopolitical uncertainties involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran that have already led to over 4,300 cumulative flight cancellations this month. While IndiGo plans to maintain nearly 2,000 daily domestic flights in April, the carrier has warned that international schedules remain fluid and subject to the evolving situation in the Middle East. With major airlines like Air India and IndiGo already introducing phased fuel surcharges to offset these escalating expenses, passengers are likely to face higher airfares and potential route consolidations throughout the summer season ending October 31.