National Desk: In a fresh blow to air travelers, India’s largest airline IndiGo has announced an increase in fuel surcharge on both domestic and international flights. The revised charges, ranging from ₹275 to ₹10,000, will come into effect from April 2.
The move follows a surge in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices. The announcement coincided with the latest revision in ATF rates, where the government approved a partial 25% increase in fuel prices for domestic flights.
Revised Fuel Charges
IndiGo stated that for domestic flights, the fuel surcharge will now vary between ₹275 and ₹950 depending on the travel distance. Currently, the airline charges a uniform fuel fee on domestic tickets.
For international flights, the surcharge will range from ₹900 to ₹10,000, also based on distance.
Earlier Surcharge Already in Place
It is important to note that since March 14, IndiGo has already been charging fuel surcharges ranging from ₹425 to ₹2,300 on tickets due to rising fuel costs linked to the West Asia crisis.
Rising Costs Impact Operations
In a statement, the airline said that ATF prices for international operations have more than doubled over the past month, significantly impacting operating costs.
“IndiGo has revised its domestic fuel surcharge based on different travel distances,” the airline said.
Passengers to Bear Partial Burden
The airline clarified that while a significant fare revision was necessary to fully offset the rising fuel costs, it has passed on only a part of the burden to customers to minimize the impact.
IndiGo also expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to passengers and thanked the government for timely intervention, stating that without it, rising fuel costs could have severely affected domestic air travel.
