New Delhi Bureau. Air travel is about to get more expensive. IndiGo, India’s largest airline, on Monday (October 5) announced a hike in the fuel surcharge levied on domestic and international tickets, with the revised rates taking effect from October 6.
The increase ranges from ₹100 to ₹350 per ticket depending on the distance flown. This is the second hike in the surcharge since April — IndiGo had introduced the fuel surcharge only in March this year. With the airline operating over 2,200 flights a day, the decision will affect crores of passengers.
New Surcharge Slabs on Domestic Routes
On domestic routes, the revised fuel surcharge is now distance-linked:
- Up to 500 km: ₹375
- 501–1,000 km: ₹600
- 1,001–1,500 km: ₹900
- 1,501–2,000 km: ₹1,150
- Over 2,000 km: ₹1,300
International Routes: Europe Hit the Hardest
International passengers will also pay more. For the SAARC region, the surcharge will range from ₹1,000 to ₹3,000, while travellers to Southeast Asia, the Gulf, the Middle East and Northeast Asia will pay ₹5,500. Passengers flying to Africa face a ₹6,000 surcharge, and Europe routes carry the steepest levy at ₹10,000.
Why Fares Are Rising
According to IndiGo’s statement, aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices have remained volatile for several months, particularly amid the geopolitical situation in the Middle East. The airline said fuel prices have been rising steadily, with the latest monthly increase exceeding 14 per cent, pushing ATF costs to among the highest levels of the past decade.
The airline noted that ATF forms a large share of its operating cost, making an impact on its cost structure inevitable. However, IndiGo claimed the hike is considerably smaller and more restrained than what full cost recovery would have required, in order to minimise the impact on customers. Expressing regret over the additional burden on travellers, the airline said it would keep monitoring the situation and make periodic revisions as needed.
Source: PTI
