Air India and Air India Express will increase fuel surcharges on domestic and select international flights from October 9 as airlines face a sharp rise in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices. The revised charges will apply to new bookings, increasing the overall fare payable by passengers. The airlines said the move was necessary to partially offset the higher operating costs resulting from elevated fuel prices.

For domestic flights, the revised one-way fuel surcharge will depend on the distance travelled. Passengers will pay Rs 400 for journeys of up to 500 km, Rs 600 for flights covering 501 to 1,000 km and Rs 850 for sectors between 1,001 and 1,500 km. Flights covering 1,501 to 2,000 km will attract a surcharge of Rs 1,200, with the same amount applicable to journeys beyond 2,000 km.

The airlines have also revised surcharges on select international routes originating from or arriving in India. The charge has been set at USD 215 for North America, USD 210 for Australia, USD 135 for Europe including the UK, and USD 55 for West Asia and the Middle East. Air India Express will implement the revised charges for bookings made from midnight on October 9, while Air India will apply them from 11 am the same day.

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Air India said ATF prices have remained volatile in recent months amid geopolitical developments and sustained pressure on global energy markets. Fuel represents one of the largest components of airline operating costs, making carriers particularly vulnerable to sharp changes in jet fuel prices. The latest increase has therefore added pressure on airlines to recover part of the additional expense through passenger fares.

The surcharge increase comes shortly after IndiGo also revised its fuel charges for new bookings, reflecting the broader impact of rising aviation fuel costs across the Indian airline industry. Akasa Air has separately introduced a fuel surcharge as carriers attempt to manage higher operating expenses. The changes could make air travel more expensive for passengers, particularly those travelling longer domestic distances or on affected international routes.

Air India and Air India Express have indicated that the revised fuel surcharges will be reviewed periodically and adjusted when required. The move comes as airlines continue to face uncertainty over fuel prices and operating costs, with industry representatives also seeking changes to the existing ATF pricing system. The latest fare adjustments underline the growing influence of fuel costs on airline pricing and passenger expenses.

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