Air India’s revised fuel charges could make your next international flight costlier

Air India has revised its fuel surcharge on international routes, increasing costs for passengers as global jet fuel prices surge. The new charges will come into effect from April 8 and April 10, 2026, depending on the route, with higher surcharges across regions.

The airline said the revision follows a sharp rise in fuel costs. Data from the International Air Transport Association shows global jet fuel prices increased to $195.19 per barrel in the week ending March 27, up from $99.40 at the end of February, marking a rise of nearly 100%.

Higher surcharges across international routes

Air India has introduced revised fuel surcharges based on destination regions. Passengers travelling to SAARC countries will pay an additional $24 per sector, while those flying to West Asia will see a surcharge of $50.


Flights to Southeast Asia will attract $100, while Singapore routes will see a $60 surcharge. Charges are higher for long-haul routes, with $130 for Africa, $205 for Europe including the United Kingdom, and up to $280 for North America and Australia.

The airline said the surcharge increase does not fully offset the rise in fuel costs and that it continues to absorb part of the impact.

Region	Fuel Surcharge
SAARC (excluding Bangladesh)	$24
West Asia / Middle East	$50
China & Southeast Asia (excl. Singapore)	$100
Singapore	$60
Africa	$130
Europe (including UK)	$205
North America	$280
Australia	$280

Domestic fares also revised

For domestic routes, Air India has shifted to a distance-based surcharge system. Charges now range from ₹299 for flights up to 500 km to ₹899 for routes beyond 2,000 km per passenger per sector.

The change follows a government decision to cap the increase in domestic aviation turbine fuel prices at 25%, allowing airlines to adopt a calibrated approach.

Tickets issued before the revised surcharge comes into effect will not be impacted unless passengers make changes that require fare recalculation. Air India said it will continue to review fuel surcharges periodically based on market conditions.

The revision highlights the growing pressure on airlines from rising fuel costs and signals a broader impact on international travel fares.

Distance (km)	Fuel Surcharge
0 – 500	₹299
501 – 1000	₹399
1001 – 1500	₹549
1501 – 2000	₹749
2000+	₹899