Air India, Akasa Air introduce higher fuel surcharges amid rising costs
Air India, Air India Express and Akasa Air have increased fuel surcharges on several domestic and international flights as airlines face higher aviation fuel costs. The revised charges will apply to new bookings from October 9, adding to the cost of air travel for passengers at a time when fuel prices remain elevated. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click…
Two Indian airlines, Air India and Air India Express, along with Akasa Air, have announced the introduction of higher fuel surcharges on domestic and international flights due to the escalating costs of aviation fuel. These revised charges will be applicable from October 9 for all new bookings, further increasing the expenses of air travel amidst persistently high fuel prices.
Air India and Air India Express will set the fuel surcharges based on the distance traveled. For domestic flights, passengers will be charged between Rs400 and Rs1,200 depending on the distance: up to 500 km incurs a Rs400 surcharge, 501-1,000 km attracts a Rs600 surcharge, 1,001-1,500 km incurs a Rs850 surcharge, and journeys exceeding 1,501 km will cost Rs1,200.
Internationally, the surcharge varies by destination. For flights to North America, the surcharge is set at $215, while the charge for Australia is $210. Flights to Europe, including the UK, will attract a $135 surcharge, and those to West Asia and the Middle East will be subject to a $55 surcharge.
Akasa Air has also joined the trend by introducing a fuel surcharge on domestic flights and selected international routes, citing the persistent rise in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices. The new charges will apply to bookings made from October 9. For domestic passengers, the surcharge will range from Rs375 to Rs1,150 based on distance: up to 500 km incurs a Rs375 surcharge, 501-1,000 km attracts a Rs600 surcharge, 1,001-1,500 km incurs a Rs900 surcharge, and flights exceeding 1,501 km will cost Rs1,150.
For selected international routes between India and countries like Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Thailand, and Vietnam, Akasa Air will impose a surcharge of Rs2,500. This move by the airlines comes in the backdrop of a sharp rise in ATF prices and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have pushed fuel costs to their highest levels in the past decade. IndiGo, another airline, had previously raised its fuel charges for new bookings from October 6, citing the same factors.
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