European airlines cut capacity to India as passenger traffic slows

Austrian Airlines is pulling out of Mumbai from March 25 and Air France is reducing its frequency to Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore to six flights a week in its summer schedule due to increased competition and high operating costs. Air France general manager Pieter de Man said frequency was being reduced to adjust with lower demand in summer. India is considered a low season at the time and there is a drop in demand from the market. These are seasonal adjustments, he said. In a statement, Austrian said it was suspending its Mumbai flight, “due to the challenging economic situation.”