Air India has announced that passengers will have to pay an additional ₹399 fuel surcharge on every domestic flight ticket starting March 12, 2026. The surcharge will apply to tickets booked from that date onward and will also be extended to flights within the SAARC region.
The decision was taken as airlines face rising operational costs due to the sharp increase in aviation fuel prices. This change will make air travel slightly more expensive for domestic passengers across India.
Rising Jet Fuel Prices Behind the Move
The airline said the surcharge is necessary because aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices have surged sharply since early March. ATF is one of the biggest expenses for airlines and accounts for nearly 40% of total operating costs.
Fuel prices have been rising due to supply disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions and conflicts in the Middle East, which play a major role in global energy supply.
Airlines say that without adjusting fares, it would become difficult to maintain operations profitably.
Surcharge to Be Introduced in Phases
The fuel surcharge revision will be implemented in multiple phases across different routes. In the first phase starting March 12:
- Domestic and SAARC flights: ₹399 surcharge
- West Asia routes: $10 surcharge
- Southeast Asia routes: $60 surcharge
- Africa routes: $90 surcharge
A second phase beginning March 18 will increase surcharges on long-haul routes such as Europe, North America, and Australia.
Further adjustments for Far East routes may be announced later.
Existing Tickets Will Not Be Affected
Air India clarified that tickets issued before the new surcharge takes effect will not be impacted. However, if passengers change travel dates or itineraries requiring a new fare calculation, the revised surcharge may apply.
The airline said it regrets introducing the surcharge but described the move as necessary to manage rising fuel costs and maintain flight operations.
Impact on Travellers
For passengers, the surcharge means that airfares on Air India flights will become slightly more expensive in the coming weeks. The change reflects how global geopolitical developments and fuel price fluctuations can directly affect airline ticket prices.
Airlines may continue reviewing fuel surcharges periodically depending on fuel price trends and global supply conditions.
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