Air India, Air India Express and Akasa Air have raised fuel surcharges on domestic and international flights, adding to travel costs as aviation turbine fuel prices rise and the rupee weakens, according to a Times of India report published on October 9.
The revised charges come after IndiGo also increased its fuel surcharge. The higher levies are being introduced as airlines face increased operating costs and domestic air traffic shows signs of weakening, with price-sensitive travellers beginning to consider other modes of transport.
For flights operated by the Air India group, the new domestic surcharge is distance-based. It ranges from Rs 400 for journeys of up to 500 km to Rs 1,200 for flights covering more than 2,000 km. The surcharge applies to Air India and Air India Express services, according to the report.
The airline group has also revised fuel surcharges on international routes. The charges now range from $55 for flights to West Asia to $215 for flights to North America. The changes are expected to raise the total cost paid by passengers, particularly on longer routes where the surcharge is higher.
Air India said the increase reflected the continuing impact of fuel prices on airline operations. “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 cited by the Times of India.
Akasa Air has also increased its fuel surcharge. Its earlier surcharge range of Rs 199 to Rs 1,300 has been revised to between Rs 375 and Rs 2,500. The applicable amount varies by the route and fare conditions, with the upper end of the range substantially higher than the previous maximum.
The increases arrive at a sensitive point for domestic mobility. Air travel connects major metropolitan regions, employment centres and business destinations, but higher fares can alter how households choose to travel. The Times of India report said air traffic was beginning to decline as higher fares encouraged some price-sensitive domestic travellers to shift to other transport modes.
The surcharge revisions also mean that passengers comparing fares across airlines will need to account for the additional fuel component rather than relying only on the base ticket price. The final amount will depend on the airline, route, distance and whether the journey is domestic or international.
The revised surcharges are now part of the applicable fares for the affected Air India group and Akasa services. No further implementation timeline or end date for the higher charges was provided in the supplied report.
