New Delhi: Air travelers may soon feel the pinch as Air India has announced a significant increase in fuel surcharge across both domestic and international routes, citing a sharp surge in global aviation fuel prices. The revised charges will take effect from Wednesday on most routes, with select long-haul destinations like Europe, North America, and Australia seeing the change from April 10.
The airline clarified that the move comes after policy actions by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, which limited aviation fuel price hikes to 25%.
In a shift from its earlier system, Air India has introduced a distance-based surcharge model for domestic flights. Passengers flying up to 500 km will now pay an additional ₹299 per sector, while long-distance travelers covering over 2,000 km could be charged up to ₹899 extra.
International passengers are expected to bear a heavier burden. Flights to Europe will attract a surcharge of $205, while those traveling to North America and Australia will have to pay $280 per sector. For Gulf destinations, the surcharge is set at $50, and $100 for Southeast Asian routes.
With global fuel prices continuing to climb, the fare hike signals growing pressure on airlines—and a likely increase in travel costs for passengers worldwide.
