Amid worries about LPG shortage in the country, it has emerged that the hike in jet fuel price would raise the cost of flying. This comes as Air India said the airline and its subsidiary Air India Express will levy fuel surcharges on its domestic and international network.
The fuel surcharge will be implemented in three phases, said Air India, adding that the move is unavoidable amid the global energy crisis.
Phase 1 will begin on March 12. The domestic and SAARC routes will see a surcharge of Rs 399 while international flights will see a surcharge of $10 for West Asia, $20 for Southeast Asia and $30 for Africa routes.
Phase 2 will kick off on March 18. Flights to Europe will see additional surcharge of $25 while North America and Australia routes will see surcharge increase by $50.
Phase 3 will cover Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea. However, further details will be announced only in the coming days.
It further stated that some flights would have to be cancelled if the fuel surcharge is not introduced.
"Since early March 2026, aviation turbine fuel (ATF), which accounts for nearly 40 per cent of an airline's operating costs, has seen significant price escalation due to supply interruptions. In India, this pressure is amplified by high excise duty and VAT on ATF in major metro cities such as Delhi and Mumbai, magnifying cost the impact and placing substantial strain on airline operating economics," Air India stated.
Other carriers, including Air India and SpiceJet, are yet to make similar announcements.
