IndiGo Fuel Charge Hike: IndiGo will add ATF charges ranging from ₹275 to ₹10,000 to the airfare for domestic and international flights. The new rates will be implemented from April 2.

IndiGo hikes fuel surcharge

Due to the Middle East crisis, IndiGo has announced to increase the fuel surcharge for domestic and international flights. The effect of the sharp rise in the prices of ATF i.e. Air Turbine Fuel has now directly reached the pockets of air travellers. Amid the pressure of expensive fuel, the country's largest airline IndiGo has again revised its fuel charges. Now the new rates will be applicable on all new bookings made from April 2, whether the journey is domestic or international. Earlier, where a flat fuel charge of ₹425 was applicable on all domestic routes, now it has been decided on the basis of distance.

₹275 for a journey of up to 500 km

₹400 for 500 to 1000 km

₹600 for 1000 to 1500 km

₹800 for 1500 to 2000 km

For flights over 2000 km, a fuel charge of ₹950 will be applicable.

There has been some relief on short routes, but the expenses have increased for long distance passengers. The fuel charge was first imposed on March 14, but due to the ongoing tension in the Middle East and rising fuel prices, the airline has had to revise it again. This is the second revision in just three weeks. The fuel charge was first imposed on March 14, but due to the ongoing tension in West Asia and rising fuel prices, the airline has had to revise it again.

The government has intervened on domestic flights, providing some relief to travelers. The Petroleum Ministry and the Civil Aviation Ministry have allowed airlines to pass on only partial increases of up to 25 percent to avoid a sudden, significant surge in ticket prices. The picture is quite different on international flights. No government-imposed limit has been imposed, leading to a sharp increase in fuel charges.

International routes have increased manifold in three weeks

On March 14, fuel surcharges were fixed at around ₹900 for the Middle East, ₹1,800 for South Asia and China, and ₹2,300 for Europe. Now, from April 2, fuel charges will be ₹3,000 to ₹5,000 for the Middle East, ₹3,500 to ₹5,000 for South Asia and China, ₹7,500 for Turkey-Greece, and up to ₹10,000 on the Europe route. In just three weeks, fuel charges on international travel have increased three to four times.

Fuel charges will affect the ticket.

This increase in fuel charges will have a direct impact on the total cost of the ticket. Passengers, especially on international and long-haul flights, will now have to pay more than before. The airline says it hasn't passed the entire burden on to passengers, but if ATF prices continue to rise at this rate, airfares could rise further in the future. According to IATA's Jet Fuel Monitor, fuel prices in the region have risen by more than 130 percent in the past month. On international routes, ATF prices have more than doubled in a month.

This comes at a time when the Petroleum Ministry and the Civil Aviation Ministry have jointly decided to grant airlines only a partial 25 percent increase for domestic operations. Therefore, IndiGo has avoided passing the entire burden onto passengers and has established differential fuel charges based on distance.