IndiGo to hike fuel surcharge for domestic and international flights from Oct 6

The country's largest airline, IndiGo, on Monday announced a hike in fuel surcharge for domestic and international flights in the wake of rising jet fuel prices. The revised charges will be effective from October 6, and the move will push airfares higher. The quantum of the hike ranges from ₹100 to ₹350 for domestic flights depending on distance. The hike in surcharge has also been effected for international flights. This is the second time since April that the carrier has increased the fuel surcharge, which was introduced in March.

The fuel surcharge will be ₹375 for routes with distance up to 500 kilometres and ₹600 for flights having distance between 501 and 1,000 kilometres. The amount will be ₹900 for routes with a distance of 1,001 to 1,500 kilometres and ₹1,150 for a distance of 1,501 to 2,000 kilometres. The statement said the fuel surcharge will be ₹1,300 for flights having a distance of more than 2,000 kilometres.

For the SAARC region flights, the fuel surcharge varies from ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 and ₹6,000 for Africa flights and ₹10,000 for Europe services. The fuel surcharge will be ₹5,500 for flights to Southeast Asia, GCC and the Middle East, and North and East Asia, as per the statement. IndiGo said ATF prices have remained volatile in recent months, especially following the geopolitical situation in the Middle East. According to the airline, the continuous rise in fuel prices, with the latest month-on-month increase exceeding 14 per cent, has taken ATF costs to levels that are amongst the highest in the last decade.

"Given that Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) makes up a significant share of the airline's operating costs, this rise is expected to impact airlines' cost structures and network economics, including those of IndiGo," it said in a statement on Monday. In view of the situation, the airline said it has marginally recalibrated its fuel charges across its domestic as well as international flights.

While offsetting the increase in fuel costs would have required a significantly larger increase in the fuel charges, a measured and relatively modest adjustment to minimise the impact on customers has been made, the airline said. Regretting the additional burden the revised fuel charges would have on the travellers, the airline said the decision reflects the sustained increase in operating costs and the evolving market environment. The airline also said it would continue to monitor the situation and make relevant adjustments as and when appropriate. IndiGo operates over 2,200 flights daily.