Air India Airbus A320neo. Photo: Markus Mainka / Shutterstock.com Air India and Air India Express have revised fuel surcharges on domestic and international flights from October 9, citing rising aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices and pressure on airline operating costs.
The new charges vary according to route and distance, with passengers on some international routes facing surcharges of more than $200 per sector. The changes apply to new bookings made from the effective times announced by the airlines.
For Air India Express, the revised charges took effect at midnight Indian Standard Time on October 9, while Air India introduced the changes from 11 a.m. the same day.
On domestic routes, the revised one-way fuel surcharge depends on the distance travelled. Fees start at INR 400 for flights covering up to 500 kilometres and rise to INR 600 for routes between 501 and 1,000 kilometres.
Passengers travelling between 1,001 and 1,500 kilometres will pay INR 850, while routes longer than 1,500 kilometres carry a surcharge of INR 1,200.
International surcharges are set by destination region. Flights to North America carry a fee of $215 per sector, while services to Australia have a surcharge of $210. Passengers travelling to Europe, including the United Kingdom, face a fee of $135.
The surcharge for West Asia and the Middle East is $55 per sector.
The revised fees apply to itineraries to and from India, according to the airlines' announcement. The final ticket price will depend on the applicable fare and charges for the selected route.
Air India said aviation fuel prices have fluctuated in recent months, driven largely by geopolitical developments and pressure on global energy markets. The latest increases have added to airlines' operating expenses, with fuel accounting for a substantial share of total costs.
The carriers described the changes as a measure to partially offset the higher expenses while continuing to operate their networks.