International flyers looking to book flights to India with carriers based in India will be required to shell out more. India’s national airline, Air India has decided to jack up fuel surcharge on both domestic and international flight operations. The decision has come following the 7.6% hike in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices. Other carriers based in India have followed suit or expected to do so.Last week, Air India hiked the surcharge for international flights by USD15 (Rs 840) for a one-way ticket and by USD30 (Rs 1,680) for return tickets. For domestic flights operations, the surcharge has been increased by INR150 for flights of upto 1,000 km and by INR250 on longer domestic flights.
Jet Airways, one of India’s largest airlines and its subsidiary JetKonnect have also increased the fuel surcharge on all domestic flights, said a company statement. On most international flights taking off from India, a one-way surcharge of $15 will also be levied. Some international routes would be exempted from the fuel surcharge but it wasn’t made clear which ones.
SpiceJet, a leading budget carrier in India known for offering cheap flight deals, has also put it across that the airline is in no condition to absorb the recent hike in ATF costs and it has to pass on the burden to the flyers.
Indian carriers have been demanding reduction in tariffs and have even got permission from the government to import ATF directly.
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