IndiGo raises fuel charges on domestic and international flights as jet fuel prices soar
Passengers will pay up to Rs 1,300 more on domestic routes and up to Rs 10,000 on international flights from 6 October.
IndiGo is raising fuel charges on all domestic and international flights, making air travel more expensive for passengers starting 6 October 2026.
The airline announced that the new charges will apply to all new bookings made from 12.01 am on Tuesday, 6 October 2026. The decision follows a sharp increase in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices, which the airline says has put significant pressure on its operating costs.
Why is IndiGo raising fuel charges?
Jet fuel prices jumped by about 13.2% on 1 October, rising by Rs 16 a litre to around Rs 137 a litre. This marks the third consecutive monthly increase, after rises of Rs 5 a litre in August and Rs 6.28 a litre in September. IndiGo said the latest month-on-month increase in fuel prices exceeded 14%, pushing ATF costs to some of their highest levels in a decade.
Aviation turbine fuel represents a major portion of an airline’s operating expenses. IndiGo said that while a much larger hike would be needed to fully offset the rising costs, it has opted for a "measured and relatively modest adjustment" to limit the impact on passengers.
How much will IndiGo domestic flights cost now?
For domestic travellers, the extra cost will be determined by the distance of the flight. Short trips under 500 kilometres will see a fuel charge of Rs 375, up from the Rs 275 introduced during the last price revision in April. Flights longer than 2,000 kilometres will carry the highest domestic surcharge of Rs 1,300, up from Rs 950.
- Up to 500 km: Rs 375 (up from Rs 275)
- 501 to 1,000 km: Rs 600 (up from Rs 400)
- 1,001 to 1,500 km: Rs 900 (up from Rs 600)
- 1,501 to 2,000 km: Rs 1,150 (up from Rs 800)
- Above 2,000 km: Rs 1,300 (up from Rs 950)
What are the new international fuel charges?
On international routes, the charges scale up significantly depending on the destination. Shorter flights within the SAARC region of up to 500 kilometres will attract a Rs 1,000 charge, while longer SAARC routes will cost Rs 3,000 extra.
Passengers flying to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, the Gulf, or North and East Asia will be charged Rs 5,500. Flights to Africa will carry a Rs 6,000 surcharge, and trips to Europe will cost an additional Rs 10,000.
How does this affect overall travel costs?
This is the second time in two months that IndiGo has increased the cost of travel. In September, the airline raised fees for several ancillary services, including travelling with an infant on a domestic flight, which rose to Rs 3,000 from Rs 2,200. Charges for unaccompanied minors were also set at Rs 5,999 for domestic routes and Rs 12,999 for international flights.
The price hikes come amid broader pressure on oil markets, partly driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. However, global oil prices remain below the peak of $126 a barrel seen earlier in the conflict.
Shares in IndiGo's parent company, InterGlobe Aviation, were trading slightly higher following the announcement, up 0.12% at Rs 4,927.15 on the BSE at lunchtime on Monday.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic fuel charge range | Rs 375 to Rs 1,300 | IndiGo |
| International fuel charge range | Rs 1,000 to Rs 10,000 | IndiGo |
| ATF price increase on 1 October | Rs 16 per litre (13.2%) | Oil marketing companies |
| InterGlobe Aviation share price on Monday | Rs 4,927.15 | BSE |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| IndiGo | India's largest airline which announced the fuel surcharge hike. |
