Air India cancels direct flights between Vienna and Delhi
There is more bad news for Vienna Airport. Air India is discontinuing its direct flight between Vienna and Delhi. According to the current schedule, the last flight appears to be on October 31, 2026. Officially, the Indian airline calls it a temporary suspension. However, a look at the booking interface tells a different story. Currently, flights between the two cities cannot be booked until the summer of 2027.
It is therefore unclear how long Vienna will actually disappear from Air India's map. Just a few weeks ago, the airline already removed Copenhagen from its route network. Now it is Vienna's turn. There is much evidence that the airline's cost-cutting measures will not stop at European destinations.
The situation is particularly frustrating for passengers who have already booked a ticket. Air India is cancelling the affected flights and, according to current information, is not offering any alternative transport. Rebooking to other flights is apparently not an option either. Even for Star Alliance members, the airline has shown little willingness to accommodate requests. Neither rebooking to other Star Alliance flights nor to its own connection via Frankfurt to Delhi is being offered. Affected passengers will only be refunded the ticket price. Anyone wishing to continue their journey will have to arrange alternative transport themselves.
For Vienna Airport, the cessation of flights is yet another setback. Following Wizz Air's withdrawal from Vienna and Ryanair's increasing relocation of aircraft from Austrian bases, the competitiveness of the domestic aviation sector is once again being questioned. The Austrian air passenger tax has been the target of criticism from the industry for years. While other European airports are fighting for new connections and additional capacity, Vienna risks losing further ground in international direct flights.
Whether Air India will actually return to Vienna and when it will happen remains unanswered. The announced temporary suspension, given the lack of booking options until summer 2027, certainly does not sound reassuring. For travelers, it primarily means fewer options, and for Vienna Airport, the loss of another direct connection to Asia.
