Flying gets costlier from October 9: Air India, Air India Express join Akasa Air in fuel surcharge hike; here's what you'll pay

Air India and Air India Express on Thursday announced revised fuel surcharges of up to Rs 1,200 on domestic flights and up to $215 on international routes, joining Akasa Air in adjusting passenger charges amid a sustained rise in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices.

The revised surcharges will apply to new bookings made from October 9, 2026. For Air India Express, the changes will take effect at 12 am IST, while Air India will implement them from 11 am IST on the same day.

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


The announcement comes hours after Akasa Air introduced a fuel surcharge ranging from Rs 375 to Rs 1,150 on domestic routes and revised its international surcharge to Rs 2,500 across six countries, also effective October 9.

The decisions by the three carriers come as geopolitical tensions and disruptions in global energy markets continue to push up aviation fuel costs, increasing operating expenses for airlines.

Air India and Air India Express said the revisions were intended to partially offset the additional fuel expenditure while maintaining services across their networks.

Air India, Air India Express: Revised domestic fuel surcharges

The two airlines have announced distance-based surcharges for domestic flights, with charges ranging from Rs 400 to Rs 1,200 for one-way journeys.

Under the revised structure:

0–500 km: Rs 400

501–1,000 km: Rs 600

1,001–1,500 km: Rs 850

1,501–2,000 km: Rs 1,200

Above 2,000 km: Rs 1,200

The charges will apply to new bookings from the respective implementation times on October 9.

How much will international passengers pay?

For international flights, Air India and Air India Express have announced region-specific fuel surcharges for one-way itineraries originating in or arriving in India.

The revised charges are:

North America: $215

Australia: $210

Europe, including the UK: $135

West Asia and the Middle East: $55

The surcharge will vary according to the destination region rather than the distance-based structure applicable to domestic flights.

Both airlines said they would periodically review the charges and make adjustments depending on fuel prices and operating conditions.

Akasa Air also introduces fuel surcharge from October 9

Akasa Air separately announced a new fuel surcharge on domestic flights and revised charges on international routes, citing the continued increase in ATF prices.

For domestic travel, the airline has introduced four surcharge bands:

0–500 km: Rs 375

501–1,000 km: Rs 600

1,001–1,500 km: Rs 900

Above 1,500 km: Rs 1,150

For international routes connecting India with Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand and Vietnam, Akasa Air has fixed the revised fuel surcharge at Rs 2,500.

The changes will apply to new bookings made from 12:01 am on October 9.

Why are airlines revising fuel surcharges?

The surcharge revisions come amid sustained volatility in global aviation fuel prices, largely driven by geopolitical developments in the Middle East and pressure on international energy markets.

ATF accounts for a substantial portion of airline operating expenditure, leaving carriers exposed to fluctuations in crude oil and aviation fuel prices.

Air India, Air India Express and Akasa Air said their respective surcharge adjustments were aimed at recovering part of the increased fuel costs.

For passengers, the revised charges will form part of the applicable ticket fares on new bookings, although the final amount paid will continue to depend on the route, base fare and other applicable charges.

The airlines have indicated that the surcharges are subject to periodic review as fuel prices and market conditions evolve.