IndiGo airfares rise: New ₹275 to ₹10,000 fuel charges for domestic and international flights

New Delhi: India’s primary carrier IndiGo has announced a new scale of fuel charges between Rs 275 and Rs 10,000. The move is expected to drive up ticket prices across various domestic and international sectors following a spike in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) costs.

The airline’s decision aligns with a fresh revision in ATF prices. While global costs have soared, the Indian government opted for a partial, 25% hike for domestic operations to cushion the impact. Since March 14, IndiGo had been applying surcharges between Rs 425 and Rs 2,300 due to volatility caused by conflict in West Asia.

Regarding the price adjustment, IndiGo stated: "Although fully offsetting the fuel price increase would require substantial fare revisions, IndiGo has passed on a relatively smaller amount to customers, keeping in mind the consequential burden on them." The carrier expressed regret for the added cost to travelers but noted the necessity of the adjustment, which takes effect at 0001 hours on April 2.

Domestic fare adjustments

Moving away from its previous flat-fee model, IndiGo will now charge based on distance:

• 0-500 km: Rs 275
• 501-1,000 km: Rs 400
• 1,001-1,500 km: Rs 600
• 1,501-2,000 km: Rs 800
• Above 2,000 km: Rs 950

International fare changes

The airline noted that international ATF prices have more than doubled in the last month. Specifically: "For international operations, ATF prices have more than doubled in the last month, consequentially driving a significant impact on the airline's operating costs on these routes."

• Indian Subcontinent: Rs 900 (up to 500 km) to Rs 2,500 (above 500 km).
• GCC and Middle East: Rs 3,000 (up to 2,000 km) to Rs 5,000 (above 2,000 km).
• Southeast Asia and China: Rs 3,500 (up to 2,000 km) to Rs 5,000 (above 2,000 km).
• Africa: Rs 5,000.
• Greece and Turkey: Rs 7,500.
• UK and Europe: Rs 10,000.

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu described the government's decision to implement a staggered 25% increase (roughly Rs 15 per litre) for domestic carriers as "both pragmatic and forward-looking, while ensuring that foreign routes bear the full market-aligned price”. Currently, ATF prices for domestic airlines in Delhi have risen by 8.56% to Rs 104,927.18 per kl. In contrast, foreign and non-scheduled carriers face a significantly higher rate of Rs 2,07,341.22 per kl. While IndiGo has moved to adjust fares, competitors such as Air India, Air India Express and Akasa Air have not yet announced further revisions to their existing surcharges.

PTI