Aviation giant Air India Group on Tuesday revised its fuel surcharge on domestic and international routes as Middle East tensions continue to impact oil supplies across the world. The move follows the decision by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to limit the increase in domestic aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices to 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 be applicable across the entire group including Air India Express flights.According to the latest data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the global average jet fuel price almost 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’ll pay from Wednesday:
- Passengers flying up to 500 km will have to pay an additional Rs 299 per sector.
- Those traveling between 501 and 1,000 km will be charged Rs 399.
- It will cost Rs 549 for a journey of 1,001 to 1,500 km.
- The surcharge for distance between 1,501 to 2,000 km will be Rs 749.
- For sectors of more than 2,000 km, the surcharge will increase to Rs 899.
On the international front, the airline has introduced stringent amendments citing lack of uniform price control on ATF. Effective from 0901 hrs IST on April 8, 2026, passengers flying to SAARC destinations (except Bangladesh) will have to pay a surcharge of $24 per sector. The fee for the Middle East is set at $50, while routes to China and Southeast Asia (except Singapore) will cost $100. The surcharge is $60 for Singapore and $130 for Africa.The surcharge for flights to Europe, including the United Kingdom, is set at $205. Meanwhile, passengers traveling to North America and Australia will be charged $280 per sector, with these rates effective from 0001 hrs IST on April 10, 2026.
Why did Air India impose surcharge?
The airline said that the increase is not limited to crude oil prices only. Refinery margins, known as ‘crack spreads’, have also widened sharply, rising from $27.83 a barrel for the week ended February 27 to $81.44 as of March 27. This combination has increased cost pressures for airlines worldwide. Air India said that even after the revision, the updated international fuel surcharge does not fully balance the increase in fuel costs, and a large portion continues to be absorbed by the airline. The airline said revision of flights to Bangladesh as well as Far East destinations such as Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea will be announced later, subject to regulatory approval. Air India clarified that tickets issued before the revised deadline will not be subject to the new surcharge, unless passengers make changes to their travel plans, which would require recalculation of fares.
