Major setback for air travelers this Diwali: fares have become significantly costlier, and fuel surcharges have increased..

Air travelers are set to face a price hike during the festive season. Major domestic airlines have announced an increase in fuel surcharges. Indigo raised its fuel surcharge two days ago, and now Air India, Air India Express, and Akasa Air have decided to do the same. The airlines took this decision in light of the continuous rise in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices. The new rates will come into effect on October 9, inevitably impacting the total airfare for passengers.

According to the airlines, ATF prices have fluctuated over the past few months due to geopolitical developments and pressure on global energy markets. Recent price hikes have increased operational costs for airlines, with fuel accounting for a significant portion of their total expenditure. The new fuel surcharge will help offset a part of these increased fuel costs, enabling the airlines to continue operating flights on their respective routes.

For Air India Express, the new surcharge will apply to bookings made from midnight (IST) on October 9. For Air India, it will apply to bookings made from 11:00 AM (IST) on October 9. The surcharge amount will vary based on the flight route and distance.

How much will the fuel surcharge be for domestic flights?
Air India and Air India Express have set the fuel surcharge for one-way domestic flights between ₹400 and ₹1,200, depending on the flight distance. For international flights, the surcharge will range from US$55 to US$215. Consequently, the impact of rising ATF prices will be reflected in the fares for both domestic and certain international flights. 

Akasa Air Hikes Fuel Surcharge
According to Akasa Air, the new fuel surcharge will apply to all new bookings made from 12:01 AM on October 9, 2026. Under the new rules, passengers on domestic flights will have to pay an additional fuel surcharge ranging from ₹375 to ₹1,150, depending on the distance traveled. Meanwhile, for international flights, Akasa Air has set a fuel surcharge of ₹2,500 for six countries/destinations; this means passengers booking tickets on these routes will have to pay an extra ₹2,500 over and above the standard ticket price.

IndiGo Hikes Charges
IndiGo has also increased fuel charges for new bookings made from 12:01 AM on October 6, 2026. For domestic flights, fuel charges will range from ₹375 to ₹1,300, depending on the distance. For international flights, the charge will vary between ₹1,000 and ₹10,000, depending on the route. The highest charge, set at ₹10,000, applies to flights to Europe. IndiGo stated that the hike in charges has been kept lower than the actual fuel costs to minimize the impact on passengers.

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