Air India and Air India Express will raise fuel surcharges on domestic and selected international routes, increasing the amount passengers pay on new bookings as airlines respond to higher aviation turbine fuel costs and continuing pressure in global energy markets.
The revised surcharge will apply to new Air India Express bookings made from 12 midnight on October 9, while the change will apply to new Air India bookings from 11 am on the same day, according to the airlines’ statement cited by Aaj Tak Business.
For domestic flights covering 1,001 to 1,500 km, passengers will pay a fuel surcharge of Rs 850. Journeys of more than 1,501 km will attract a fixed surcharge of Rs 1,200. The revised charges will be added to the applicable fare and will increase the total amount payable by travellers.
Air India has also revised fuel surcharges for selected international sectors. The charge for North America routes has been set at $215, while passengers flying to Australia will pay $210. The surcharge for Europe, including the United Kingdom, will be $135. The report also lists West Asia and Middle East routes among the sectors covered by the change, but does not specify the revised amount for those routes.
The airlines attributed the decision to continuing volatility in ATF prices, geopolitical developments and pressure on global energy markets. They said the recent rise in fuel prices had increased operating costs because fuel accounts for a significant share of an airline’s total expenditure. The report states that ATF represents about 40% of the total operating cost of a flight.
In its explanation, Air India said the surcharge had been adjusted after considering the sustained increase in ATF prices. The airline said the measure was intended to offset part of the higher cost burden while enabling Air India and Air India Express to continue providing reliable service across their networks.
The surcharge revision follows a similar increase by IndiGo, according to the report. For passengers, the change means that the displayed airfare alone may not reflect the full impact of the fuel-cost increase, as the surcharge forms a separate component of the final ticket price. The effect will be most visible on longer domestic journeys and the international routes covered by the revision.
The move also highlights the exposure of India’s air connectivity to fuel-price swings. Airlines must balance the cost of operating flights with fares that passengers are willing to pay, while changes in ATF prices can affect ticket prices across routes. The revised Air India and Air India Express charges will begin appearing in new bookings from the specified times on October 9.
