Air India, Akasa Air Hike Fuel Surcharges Amid Rising ATF Costs
Air India, Air India Express, and Akasa Air have implemented new fuel surcharges on domestic and international flights due to rising ATF costs.
Travelers planning to fly across India or abroad will soon feel the pinch at the ticket counter. Major airlines, including Air India, Air India Express, and Akasa Air, have implemented revised fuel surcharges on both domestic and international routes, citing a sharp and sustained increase in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices.
Air India and Air India Express New Pricing Structure
Effective from October 9, Air India and Air India Express have restructured their fuel levies to combat the rising cost of aviation fuel. The airlines have indicated that these charges will be reviewed periodically to adjust to market fluctuations.
Domestic Flight Surcharges
For passengers flying within India, the new surcharges are categorized by the distance of the sector:
- 0–500 km: Rs 400
- 501–1,000 km: Rs 600
- 1,001–1,500 km: Rs 850
- 1,501 km and above: Rs 1,200
International Flight Surcharges
The revised international levies vary significantly based on the destination region:
- North America: USD 215
- Australia: USD 210
- Europe (including UK): USD 135
- West Asia/Middle East: USD 55
Akasa Air Introduces New Levies
Following the trend, Akasa Air has also introduced fuel surcharges for its domestic and selected international operations. These changes apply to all new bookings made from the early hours of October 9, 2026.
Akasa Air Domestic Rates
- Up to 500 km: Rs 375
- 501–1,000 km: Rs 600
- 1,001–1,500 km: Rs 900
- 1,501 km and above: Rs 1,150
Akasa Air International Rates
For specific international routes, Akasa Air will apply a surcharge of Rs 2,500 on flights connecting India to Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The ATF Crisis: Why Prices are Skyrocketing
The aviation industry is grappling with a massive spike in fuel costs. Earlier this month, IndiGo also revised its charges, pointing toward a combination of geopolitical tensions in West Asia and a month-on-month increase in fuel prices exceeding 14%.
According to IndiGo, these developments have pushed ATF prices to levels not seen in the last decade. The airline's revised domestic structure included charges ranging from Rs 375 for short hauls to Rs 1,300 for long-distance domestic flights, underscoring a sector-wide struggle to manage operational costs amidst global instability.