Akasa Air has announced the introduction of a new fuel surcharge on all its domestic and international flights. This new rule comes into effect for all new bookings made from midnight of March 15, 2026. Passengers planning to travel with the airline will now have to pay extra money on their flight tickets. The airline management stated that a recent spike in aviation turbine fuel prices forced them to pass the cost to the consumers. This decision comes right after other major airlines like IndiGo and Air India also increased their travel fares.
How Much Extra Do Passengers Need to Pay?
The new fuel surcharge will directly impact the total fare cost for travelers booking flights from March 15 onwards. Those who have already booked their tickets before 00:01 hrs on March 15, 2026, will not be affected by this extra charge.
- Minimum Surcharge: Passengers traveling on short distance domestic flights will pay an extra INR 199 per sector.
- Maximum Surcharge: Travelers flying on longer domestic and international routes will have to pay up to INR 1,300 extra per sector.
The exact amount of the surcharge depends on the distance and duration of the flight. The airline has clarified that this charge is applied per sector, meaning a connecting flight will incur higher charges on the final ticket price.
Why Are Airlines Increasing the Fares?
The primary reason behind this sudden increase in flight tickets is the rising cost of Aviation Turbine Fuel. Akasa Air officials mentioned that evolving geopolitical developments in the Middle East have severely impacted fuel supply chains globally. Fuel costs represent a massive portion of the operating expenses for any airline company.
Akasa Air is not the only airline making this change for travelers. IndiGo recently applied a similar surcharge of up to INR 2,300 starting March 14, while Air India and Air India Express began a phased rollout on March 12. According to industry reports from the International Air Transport Association, regional jet fuel prices have surged by over 85 percent recently.
The airline stated it will review the fuel surcharge periodically based on the market conditions. They are trying to monitor the operating environment so that they can adjust the prices if fuel costs drop in the coming months.
