Chandigarh, April 8: The Air India group has announced revisions to its fuel surcharge structure across both domestic and international routes in response to a sharp rise in global jet fuel prices. The revised surcharges will come into effect from April 8, 2026, with certain international routes effective April 10, 2026.
Domestic Fuel Surcharge Revised
In line with the calibrated approach taken by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Ministry of Civil Aviation—which capped the domestic Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) price hike at 25%—Air India has transitioned from a flat surcharge to a distance-based grid for domestic routes (including Air India Express flights).
Revised Domestic Fuel Surcharge (Per Passenger, Per Sector):
- 0–500 km: INR 299
- 501–1000 km: INR 399
- 1001–1500 km: INR 549
- 1501–2000 km: INR 749
- 2000+ km: INR 899
These changes will be effective from 0901 hrs IST, April 8, 2026.
International Routes See Steeper Adjustments
For international routes, the airline has introduced more significant revisions due to the absence of price caps and the steep escalation in global fuel costs.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global jet fuel prices surged nearly 100%, rising from USD 99.40 per barrel at the end of February to USD 195.19 per barrel for the week ending March 27, 2026. Additionally, refinery margins—known as the “crack spread”—have nearly tripled during this period, further intensifying cost pressures.
Despite these increases, Air India noted that the revised surcharges do not fully offset the rise in fuel costs, with the airline continuing to absorb a significant portion.
Revised International Fuel Surcharge (Per Passenger, Per Sector):
- SAARC (excluding Bangladesh): USD 24
- West Asia/Middle East: USD 50
- China & Southeast Asia (excluding Singapore): USD 100
- Singapore: USD 60
- Africa: USD 130
- Europe (including UK): USD 205 (effective April 10, 2026)
- North America: USD 280
- Australia: USD 280
Revisions for Bangladesh and Far East destinations such as Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea will be announced later, subject to regulatory approvals.
Customer Impact and Applicability
Tickets issued prior to the effective dates will not attract the revised surcharge unless there are changes to travel dates or itineraries that require fare recalculations.
The Air India group stated that it will continue to review fuel surcharges periodically, adjusting them based on fluctuations in global fuel prices.
