Akasa Air announces new fuel surcharge amid rising ATF prices; check how much passengers will pay

Akasa Air on Thursday announced a fuel surcharge of up to Rs 1,150 on domestic flights and revised charges on international routes, citing a sustained rise in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

The revised charges will apply to all new bookings made from 12:01 am on October 9, 2026, the airline said in a statement.

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Under the new structure, passengers travelling on domestic routes will have to pay an additional Rs 375 to Rs 1,150, depending on the distance travelled. For international flights, the airline has fixed a fuel surcharge of Rs 2,500 across six destinations.

The move comes as rising ATF prices continue to put pressure on airline operating costs. Aviation fuel accounts for a significant share of an airline's expenditure, making carriers particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in global energy prices.

Akasa Air said the decision was aimed at partially offsetting the impact of higher fuel costs.

How much will domestic passengers pay?

The airline has introduced a distance-based fuel surcharge for domestic flights, with the amount increasing according to the length of the journey.

Up to 500 km: Rs 375

501–1,000 km: Rs 600

1,001–1,500 km: Rs 900

Above 1,500 km: Rs 1,150

The surcharge will be added to applicable fares for new bookings from October 9.

Fuel surcharge on international flights

For international operations, Akasa Air has revised its existing fuel surcharge to Rs 2,500 for flights between India and six countries.

The revised charge will apply to routes connecting India with Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand and Vietnam.

Unlike domestic flights, where the surcharge varies with distance, the airline has announced a uniform charge across these international routes.

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Why has Akasa Air introduced the surcharge?

The airline attributed the decision to the continued increase in ATF prices, driven by geopolitical developments in the Middle East.

Higher aviation fuel prices have added to operating expenses across the airline industry, prompting Akasa Air to introduce the additional charge on domestic routes and revise its international surcharge.

The airline said it had adopted a measured approach to recover only part of the additional fuel expenditure rather than fully passing on the increased costs to passengers.

Akasa Air added that it would continue monitoring fuel prices and broader operating conditions and periodically review the surcharge.

Akasa Air's expanding network

The surcharge announcement comes as Akasa Air continues to expand its domestic and international operations.

Launched in August 2022, the airline has carried more than 31 million passengers and currently operates a fleet of 43 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

Its network spans 30 domestic and seven international cities, including Doha, Jeddah, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait City, Phuket and Hanoi.

The carrier has also placed firm orders for 226 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft as part of its long-term fleet expansion plans.