New Delhi, October 8 (Udaipur Kiran): Air India and Air India Express have revised the fuel surcharge on domestic and some international flights. The airlines have taken the decision amid rising prices of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), which could increase the overall ticket cost for passengers.

The revised surcharge will apply as an additional one-way charge based on the distance of domestic flights. Passengers planning to travel with Air India or Air India Express may therefore have to pay more than before.

New Fuel Surcharge on Domestic Flights

Air India and Air India Express have introduced distance-based one-way fuel surcharges for domestic flights. The revised charges are:

• Up to 500 km: ₹400
• 501 to 1,000 km: ₹600
• 1,001 to 1,500 km: ₹850
• 1,501 to 2,000 km: ₹1,200
• More than 2,000 km: ₹1,200

The surcharge is higher for longer flights compared with the initial distance slabs. However, flights covering more than 1,501 km will have a fuel surcharge of ₹1,200.

Fuel Surcharge Revised for International Flights

The airlines have also revised fuel surcharges on some international routes. The one-way surcharge varies according to the destination region.

Flights to North America will carry a fuel surcharge of $215, while the charge for Australia has been set at $210. Flights to Europe and the UK will have a surcharge of $135, while flights to West Asia and the Middle East will carry a charge of $55.

The revised charges could increase the total ticket cost for international travellers, particularly those travelling on longer routes.

Why Have Airlines Increased the Surcharge?

According to the airlines, ATF prices have witnessed significant fluctuations in recent months. Geopolitical developments and pressure on global energy markets have contributed to changes in fuel prices.

Fuel accounts for a significant portion of an airline’s operating costs. Any increase in ATF prices therefore directly affects the cost of operating flights.

Air India and Air India Express said recent increases and fluctuations in ATF prices have put additional pressure on operating costs. The airlines have consequently revised the fuel surcharge to account for the impact of higher fuel costs.

Passengers May Have to Pay More

The increase in fuel surcharge can directly affect passengers’ ticket expenses. However, the final ticket price is not determined by the fuel surcharge alone and also includes the base fare, taxes and other charges.

Passengers planning to travel with Air India or Air India Express should check the total fare before booking their tickets. International travellers, in particular, should take the revised fuel surcharge into account as the additional charge varies across different routes.