Noida, Oct 5 (APAC Media): IndiGo on Monday announced an increase in fuel charges on its domestic and international flights, citing a sharp rise in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices and mounting pressure on operating costs.
The revised charges will come into effect for all new bookings made from 12:01 am on October 6. The move is expected to make air travel costlier for passengers as the airline passes on part of the increase in fuel expenses.
For domestic flights, the additional fuel charge will depend on the distance travelled. Passengers will pay Rs 375 for flights up to 500 km, Rs 600 for journeys between 501 and 1,000 km, Rs 900 for 1,001-1,500 km and Rs 1,150 for flights covering 1,501-2,000 km.
The charge will rise to Rs 1,300 for domestic flights exceeding 2,000 km.
On international routes, the revised fuel charge will range between Rs 1,000 and Rs 10,000, depending on the destination and distance.
IndiGo said the increase followed sustained volatility in ATF prices, particularly amid geopolitical developments in the Middle East.
“The continuous rise in the fuel prices, with the latest month-on-month increase exceeding 14%, has taken ATF costs to levels that are amongst the highest in the last decade,” the airline said in a statement.
The carrier said ATF accounts for a significant portion of airline operating expenses, making sharp movements in fuel prices a major factor in determining the economics of its network.
“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,” the airline said.
IndiGo said it had therefore decided to “re-calibrate” fuel charges across its domestic and international network to reflect the higher cost environment.
The latest move comes at a time when global oil and jet fuel markets remain sensitive to developments in the Middle East. Airlines have faced increased cost pressures as fluctuations in crude oil and refined fuel prices feed into ATF prices.
The fuel-charge increase is also the latest in a series of pricing changes by IndiGo. In September, the airline revised charges for several ancillary services, including travel by infants, unaccompanied minors and excess baggage.
The airline had increased the domestic infant travel charge to Rs 3,000 from Rs 2,200. Charges for unaccompanied minors were listed at Rs 5,999 for domestic flights and Rs 12,999 for international services.
With fuel prices remaining volatile, the latest surcharge is likely to add to passenger costs, particularly on longer routes. Existing bookings made before the effective date will not be covered by the new fuel charges, which apply to bookings made from October 6.
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