Air India and IndiGo Raise Fuel Surcharges: What Travelers Need to Know

Increased Costs for Air Travelers

New Delhi: Travelers should prepare for higher airfare as Air India and Air India Express have announced an increase in fuel surcharges for both domestic and select international flights. This adjustment comes in response to rising Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices, exacerbated by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

Following the lead of IndiGo, a major domestic airline, the Tata Group's airlines have implemented this surcharge increase.

The airlines noted that ATF prices have been unstable recently due to geopolitical tensions and persistent pressures on global energy markets. This latest hike has significantly impacted airline operating expenses, with fuel costs representing a large portion of overall expenditures.

For Air India Express, the new surcharge will take effect for bookings made after midnight IST on October 9, while Air India will apply the changes starting at 11 AM IST on the same day. The surcharge will differ based on the route and sector, as stated by Air India.

The updated one-way domestic fuel surcharge for Air India and Air India Express will range from Rs 400 to Rs 1,200, depending on the distance of the flight.

Specifically, flights under 500 km will incur a surcharge of Rs 400, while those between 501 and 1,000 km will see a charge of Rs 600.

For distances of 1,001-1,500 km, the surcharge will be Rs 850, and flights covering 1,501-2,000 km, as well as those exceeding 2,000 km, will carry a surcharge of Rs 1,200.

Additionally, the airlines have adjusted fuel surcharges for certain international routes, with charges set at $215 for North America, $210 for Australia, $135 for Europe (including the UK), and $55 for West Asia and the Middle East.

Previously, IndiGo had also revised its fuel charges for new bookings starting from 12:01 AM on October 6, citing a significant increase in ATF costs.

IndiGo reported that the continuous rise in fuel prices has led to a month-on-month increase of over 14%, pushing ATF costs to some of the highest levels seen in the last decade.

Under IndiGo's revised charges, passengers traveling up to 500 km on domestic routes will pay a fuel charge of Rs 375.

For flights covering 501-1,000 km, the charge will be Rs 600, while those covering 1,001-1,500 km will incur a charge of Rs 900.

Passengers traveling between 1,501 and 2,000 km will pay Rs 1,150, and flights exceeding 2,000 km will carry a fuel charge of Rs 1,300.

IndiGo has also adjusted fuel charges for international flights based on distance and route.

For routes within the SAARC region, flights up to 500 km will attract a charge of Rs 1,000, while those covering 501 km and above will incur a charge of Rs 3,000.

Flights to Southeast Asia, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Middle East, as well as North and East Asia, will attract a fuel charge of Rs 5,500.

Charges for flights to Africa have been set at Rs 6,000, while passengers traveling to Europe will pay Rs 10,000.

IndiGo emphasized that the revised charges are lower than the actual increase in fuel costs to mitigate the financial impact on passengers.