Kamal Ghorui
Aviation giant Air India group on Tuesday revised its fuel surcharge across domestic and international routes, as Middle East tensions continued to weigh oil supplies across the globe. The move follows the decision by the ministry of petroleum & natural gas and the ministry of civil aviation to cap the increase in domestic aviation turbine fuel (atf) prices at 25%. For domestic travel, the airline will replace its existing flat surcharge with a distance-linked structure. The revised domestic surcharge will come into effect from 0901 hrs IST on April 8, 2026, and will apply across the group, including Air India Express flights.As per the latest data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the global average jet fuel price nearly doubled within a month, rising from $99.40 per barrel at the end of February to $195.19 for the week ending March 27, 2026.
Here’s how much more you will pay from Wednesday:
- Passengers flying up to 500 km will pay an additional Rs 299 per sector.
- Those travelling between 501 and 1,000 km will be charged Rs 399.
- Journeys of 1,001 to 1,500 km will attract Rs 549.
- For distances between 1,501 and 2,000 km, the surcharge will be Rs 749.
- The surcharge will further increase to Rs 899 for sectors beyond 2,000 km.
On the international front, the airline has introduced steeper revisions, citing the lack of similar price controls on ATF. Effective from 0901 hrs IST on April 8, 2026, passengers flying to SAARC destinations (excluding Bangladesh) will pay a surcharge of $24 per sector. Charges for the Middle East have been set at $50, while routes to China and Southeast Asia (excluding Singapore) will attract $100. The surcharge for Singapore stands at $60, and for Africa at $130.For flights to Europe, including the United Kingdom, the surcharge has been fixed at $205. Meanwhile, passengers travelling to North America and Australia will be charged $280 per sector, with these rates taking effect from 0001 hrs IST on April 10, 2026.
Why Air India introduced the surcharge?
The airline pointed out that the increase is not limited to crude oil prices alone. Refinery margins, referred to as ‘crack spread’, have also surged sharply, climbing from $27.83 per barrel for the week ending February 27 to $81.44 by March 27. This combination has intensified cost pressures for airlines worldwide. Air India stated that even after the revision, the updated international fuel surcharge does not fully offset the rise in fuel costs, and a substantial portion continues to be absorbed by the airline. The airline added that revisions for flights to and from Bangladesh, along with Far East destinations such as Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea, will be announced later, subject to regulatory approvals. Air India clarified that tickets issued before the revised timelines will not be subject to the new surcharge unless passengers make changes to their travel plans that require a recalculation of fares.
