Akasa Air Introduces Fuel Surcharge Amid Rising ATF Prices; Joins Air India and IndiGo

New Delhi, March 2026 : Budget carrier Akasa Air on Saturday announced the introduction of a fuel surcharge on its flights, becoming the latest airline to revise fares following a rise in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

In a post on X, the airline said the surcharge will range between ₹199 and ₹1,300 across its domestic and international routes. The additional charge will apply to all bookings made from 12:01 a.m. on March 15, 2026, while tickets purchased before that time will remain unaffected.

“Given this impact, Akasa Air will introduce a fuel surcharge ranging from ₹199 to ₹1,300 on our domestic and international routes for all bookings made with effect from 00:01 hours on March 15, 2026,” the airline said in its statement.

The carrier clarified that the surcharge will be applied on a per-sector basis, meaning passengers may have to pay the additional amount for each segment of their journey. The amount will vary depending on the distance and duration of the flight, with longer routes attracting higher charges.

According to the airline, the decision has been taken in response to the sharp increase in aviation turbine fuel prices, which have risen due to evolving geopolitical developments in the Middle East. ATF is one of the largest components of airline operating costs and fluctuations in its price directly impact ticket pricing and operational expenses across the aviation industry.

Despite the increase, Akasa Air said it remains committed to providing passengers with reliable service and competitive fares.

“At Akasa Air, we remain focused on offering warm and efficient customer service, reliable operations and affordable fares while maintaining the highest standards of operational efficiency,” the airline said.

The airline also noted that it will continue to closely monitor fuel price trends and the broader operating environment, and will review the surcharge periodically depending on market conditions.

Akasa Air is the latest Indian airline to introduce such a charge in recent days. On Friday, IndiGo announced a similar fuel surcharge on both domestic and international flights starting March 14, with additional charges ranging between ₹425 and ₹2,300 depending on the route.

Earlier, the Air India group, which also includes Air India Express, implemented a fuel surcharge of ₹399 per ticket on domestic flights, effective March 12.

The move by multiple airlines reflects the growing pressure on the aviation sector as rising fuel costs increase operational expenses. Industry experts note that airlines often introduce temporary surcharges to offset sudden spikes in fuel prices while attempting to maintain base fares at competitive levels.

With fuel prices continuing to fluctuate amid global geopolitical tensions, airlines are expected to keep reviewing their pricing strategies to balance operational costs and passenger demand in the coming weeks.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)