Air India in deep crisis. Foreign airlines are seizing the moment...
While Air India Limited battles the Iran war, soaring jet fuel prices and Pakistan's airspace ban, a quiet redistribution of one of aviation's most coveted markets is underway.
A Reuters data analysis tells the story starkly:
✈️ AI cut 18% of international flights in March-May
✈️ Its U.S. routes collapsed 77%
✈️ International flying brings 60% of AI revenues
The timing couldn't be worse. Tata Group's entire turnaround bet was built on making Air India a credible global carrier -- new widebody jets, upgraded cabins, nonstop links to Europe and North America. As BAA & Partners' Linus Benjamin Bauer put it: "The war has attacked every leg of Air India's transformation plan."
But, someone's loss is someone's gain.
Swiss International Air Lines doubled its Delhi-Zurich frequency and says its India flights are "already largely fully booked." Lufthansa lit up Mumbai's iconic Sea Link bridge with its name in a laser display as it lures Indians. Cathay Pacific and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines are scheduling far more flights out of India.
Foreign carriers now hold 58.4% of India's international flying -- up from 51.2% a year ago.
The world's fastest-growing aviation market is clearly reshaping. Air India is losing ground, foreign giants are winning. With
@abhijithg4 @Jamie_Freed
Read the data-packed analysis here.