NEW DELHI, India — Air India on Tuesday announced a phased increase in fuel surcharges across its domestic and international routes, citing a sharp rise in aviation turbine fuel prices linked to geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region.
The airline said the revised surcharges will be implemented in three phases and will apply to all flights, including those operated by Air India Express.
Under Phase 1, which applies to all new bookings made from 0001 hours India Standard Time on March 12, 2026, the fuel surcharge will be Rs 399 for domestic flights and routes within the SAARC region. Passengers traveling to the West Asia and Middle East region will face a surcharge of $10, while those flying to Southeast Asia will pay $60 and travelers to Africa will see a surcharge of $90.
In Phase 2, the airline will impose higher surcharges for long-haul routes. Passengers traveling to Europe will face a surcharge of $125, while those flying to North America and Australia will pay $200.
Air India said a third phase will apply to routes in the Far East, including Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea. The airline noted that details for this phase will be announced at a later date.
The carrier clarified that tickets issued before the new surcharge takes effect will not be impacted unless travelers request changes to their date or itinerary that require the fare to be recalculated.
Air India acknowledged the impact of the move on passengers but said the increase was unavoidable given the spike in fuel costs.
“Air India regrets the need to increase fuel surcharges in this manner but emphasises that it is necessitated by factors outside its control,” the airline said in a statement. “Absent such fuel surcharges, it is likely that some flights would be unable to cover operating cost and would have to be cancelled. Air India will review its surcharges periodically and make appropriate adjustments as the situation requires.”
The airline noted that aviation turbine fuel, which accounts for nearly 40 percent of an airline’s operating costs, has surged in price since early March due to supply disruptions.
In India, the financial pressure on airlines has been further compounded by high excise duty and value-added tax on aviation fuel in major metro cities such as Delhi and Mumbai, which increases operating costs for carriers, Air India said. (Source: IANS)
