Flight fares take off: Air India hikes fuel surcharges, check new rates before booking

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Tata Sons' airline Air India on Tuesday announced an increase in fuel surcharges for domestic and international flights due to rising global jet fuel prices. The new surcharges will be effective from April 8.

Air India said in a statement that after the government capped the increase in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices at 25 per cent, it will follow a distance-based pricing model instead of imposing a flat surcharge on domestic routes.

On domestic flights, passengers will have to pay a fuel surcharge of ₹299 for flights up to 500 km, ₹399 for 501 to 1000 km, ₹549 for 1001 to 1500 km, ₹749 for 1501 to 2000 km and ₹899 for distances above 2000 km. These new fares will be effective from 9 am on April 8.

For international routes, Air India has implemented region-specific surcharges. Flights to SAARC countries, excluding Bangladesh, will incur an additional fee of $24, while routes to West Asia will incur an additional fee of $50. Flights to China and Southeast Asian destinations (excluding Singapore) will incur an additional fee of $100, while flights to Singapore will incur a $60 fee. Routes to Africa will incur an additional fee of $130, while flights to Europe, including the UK, will incur a $205 fee.

Additionally, the airline said passengers on long-haul flights to North America and Australia are charged $280. ​​"The fuel surcharges imposed on international routes cannot offset the significant increase in jet fuel prices for international flights. Therefore, Air India continues to bear a substantial portion of this increased cost," Air India said in a statement.