Escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, including the war-related disruption to global energy flows, have sent aviation turbine fuel (ATF) costs soaring. Every major Indian airline has now moved to pass on a part of that pain to passengers, and the latest to act is Akasa Air.
The budget carrier announced on Saturday, March 14, 2026, that it will introduce a fuel surcharge ranging from ₹199 to ₹1,300 on both domestic and international routes.
The charge applies to all new bookings made from 00:01 hrs on March 15, 2026 and will not affect any tickets already purchased before that time, Akasa Air clarified.
The surcharge will be applied per sector, meaning each leg of your journey will attract the fee, and the exact amount will vary based on the duration of the flight. Longer international routes will attract the higher end of the range.
Akasa Air is the third major Indian carrier to announce such a charge in quick succession. Air India was the first to do it, followed by IndiGo, India's largest airline by market share, which announced its own fuel surcharge effective from 00:01 hrs on March 14, 2026.
IndiGo fixed its surcharge at a flat ₹425 for domestic routes and Indian subcontinent flights, rising to ₹900 for the Middle East, ₹1,800 for South-East Asia and Africa, and ₹2,300 for Europe.
IndiGo cited data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) showing a more than 85 per cent increase in fuel prices in the region.
The trigger was the closure of the Hormuz Strait amid the ongoing Iran–US-Israel conflict, which has severely disrupted global energy supply chains.
"Fuel represents a significant portion of airline operating costs," Akasa Air noted in its announcement, adding that it would continue to monitor the environment and review the surcharge periodically.