Air India, Air India Express and Akasa Air have raised fuel surcharges on domestic and international flights, adding to travel costs as higher aviation turbine fuel prices and a weaker rupee increase airline operating expenses. The increases come as domestic air traffic is beginning to decline and some price-sensitive passengers are shifting to other modes of transport.
The Air India group’s revised domestic surcharge is now distance-based, ranging from Rs 400 for flights of up to 500 km to Rs 1,200 for journeys longer than 2,000 km. The airline has also increased the surcharge on international flights, with rates ranging from $55 for West Asia routes to $215 for flights to North America.
Air India said the changes were driven by the latest increase in fuel prices. “The latest increase in fuel prices has further elevated operating costs for airlines, with fuel continuing to account for a substantial proportion of overall airline expenditure,” the airline said in a statement.
Akasa Air has also raised its fuel surcharge. Its earlier surcharge ranged from Rs 199 to Rs 1,300, while the revised range is between Rs 375 and Rs 2,500, depending on the journey.
The increases follow a similar move by IndiGo, according to the Times of India report. Together, the changes raise the cost of air travel at a time when airlines are already facing pressure from fuel expenses and currency movements. The surcharge is levied separately from the base fare and other applicable charges, increasing the total amount paid by passengers when tickets are booked.
The impact is likely to be most visible on shorter domestic routes, where a fixed surcharge can form a larger share of the overall ticket price. For passengers travelling during the festive season, the higher charges add to the cost of connecting cities by air, while travellers with greater flexibility may compare air fares with road and rail alternatives.
The fare changes also highlight the operating sensitivity of India’s aviation network to fuel prices. Airlines use aviation turbine fuel as a major operating input, and changes in fuel costs can be passed on to passengers through surcharges. A weaker rupee can add further pressure where aviation-related costs or payments are linked to foreign currency.
The revised surcharges apply to the affected Air India group and Akasa bookings under the airlines’ updated fare structures. The airlines’ statements cited fuel costs and operating expenses as the basis for the changes.
