IndiGo’s fuel surcharge hike: Here’s how much more you'll have to pay

Awful news for folks who save up on vacation days to spend them all at the end of the year: IndiGo is raising its fuel surcharges from October 6, meaning that all of their flights – domestic and international – are about to get a little more expensive from today onwards.

The reason isn't exactly a surprise. Fuel prices have been going up since the start of the ongoing war in West Asia early this year. The region is the largest supplier (and exporter) of jet fuel in the world.

While Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices aren't usually this erratic, recent months have been especially different. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have contributed to the continued rise in fuel prices, with the latest month-on-month increase exceeding 14%. And for IndiGo, which operates around 2,200 flights a day, that isn't exactly pocket-friendly. Its jet fuel accounts for more than 40% of an airline’s operating expenses, according to IndiGo.

Yet the airline says it has nevertheless tried to keep the increase relatively restrained, describing the latest hike as a 'measured and relatively modest adjustment'. In fact, IndiGo says a significantly larger increase would have been required to fully offset the rise in fuel costs.

The airline first introduced the fuel charge in March, during the early days of the West Asia war, and last revised it on April 1. Now, from October 6, it’s getting another serious tweak.

How much of a hike in IndiGo's prices are we talking?

For domestic flights, the increase ranges from ₹100 to ₹350, depending largely on how far you’re flying. For a flight of up to 500 km, say Delhi to Jaipur, the fuel levy will rise by ₹100 to ₹375. Flying between 500 and 1,000 km, like Delhi to Ahmedabad? The charge goes from ₹400 to ₹600.

For the 1,000–1,500 km bracket (consider Delhi to Mumbai, for example), surcharges jump from ₹600 to ₹900. And a 1,501–2,000 km journey, such as Delhi to Bengaluru, will now carry a fuel charge of ₹1,150, up from ₹800. For anything over 2,000 km, like Delhi to Thiruvananthapuram, the levy rises by ₹350 to ₹1,300.

So, essentially, the further you fly, the more the jet fuel gets to have a say in your budget.

Are prices surging for international flights too?

Yes, and even more sharply. For flights to and from countries in the Indian subcontinent, the surcharge for journeys up to 500 km rises from ₹900 to ₹1,000.

For distances beyond 500 km within the subcontinent, the levy goes up by ₹500 to ₹3,000. Flights of up to 2,000 km will now carry a ₹5,500 surcharge, a jump of ₹2,500. For anything beyond 2,000 km to and from the West Asia region, the levy will also be ₹5,500, which is ₹500 more than the charge announced on April 1. And if you're heading towards Southeast Asia or China, flights of up to 2,000 km will see the surcharge rise from ₹3,500 to ₹5,500.

Flights beyond 2,000 km will also attract a ₹5,500 charge, which is up by ₹500.

Price hike at a glance

Domestic flights

International flights