Flying within India gets costlier as IndiGo hikes fuel surcharge

NEW DELHI: Flying within India is set to become more expensive after IndiGo announced an increase in fuel surcharges of between Rs 100 and Rs 350 on domestic routes, citing a sustained rise in jet fuel prices.

The revised charges apply to new bookings made from 12.01 a.m. on October 6, India’s largest airline said in a statement on Monday. The increase varies according to flight distance and is added to the ticket price.

IndiGo said the latest month-on-month increase in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices exceeded 14%, taking fuel costs to levels among the highest in the past decade.

“Given that Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) makes up a significant share of airlines’ operating costs, this rise is expected to impact airlines’ cost structures and network economics, including those of IndiGo,” it said.

The airline said it had adjusted fuel charges across its domestic and international network to partly offset the increase in operating costs.

“While offsetting the increase in fuel costs would have required a significantly larger increase in the fuel charges, IndiGo has implemented a measured and relatively modest adjustment to minimise the impact on customers,” it said.

International passengers also face revised charges. The fuel charge for flights between India and GCC and Middle Eastern destinations, including Oman, is now Rs 5,500 per sector, regardless of distance.

IndiGo said it would continue to monitor fuel prices and make further adjustments “as and when appropriate”.