Escalating tensions in the Middle East are beginning to reshape the economics of flying in ways travellers can no longer ignore. What may feel like a distant geopolitical crisis is quietly working its
way into your holiday plans.
Across India, travellers are being forced to rethink not just where they go, but how much it now costs to get there, as the impact of war extends beyond destinations to the very act of travel itself.
At the centre of the continous staggering price hike is fuel. Aviation Turbine Fuel, or ATF, accounts for a significant chunk of airline operating costs, often as much as 40%. With global oil prices surging, airlines are left with little room to absorb the impact. The result is now visible to passengers: fuel surcharges, revised fares, and an uptick in ticket prices.
List of Top Indian Airlines hiking ticket prices
Here is list of Indian airlines hiking ticket prices amid West Asia conflict, as reported till 15 March
IndiGo
IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, has introduced a layered surcharge structure that varies sharply depending on distance and destination. Domestic travellers may see smaller increments, but international flyers are bearing the brunt. Routes to Europe now come with an additional Rs 10,000 per sector, while flights to Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East are seeing hikes ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000.
- Domestic surcharge: Rs 275 – Rs 950 (based on distance)
- International surcharge: Rs 900 – Rs 10,000
- Europe routes: up to Rs 10,000 per sector
- Middle East (GCC): Rs 3,000 – Rs 5,000
- Southeast Asia & China: Rs 3,500 – Rs 5,000
- Africa: Rs 5,000 per sector
Air India
Air India has taken a similarly firm approach. Its revised surcharges stretch from a few hundred rupees on domestic routes to well over Rs 18,000 for long-haul journeys to North America and Australia. Even short regional travel is no longer immune, with fixed increases now embedded into ticket prices.
- Domestic & SAARC: Rs 399
- Southeast Asia: up to Rs 5,539.39
- Africa: up to Rs 8,309.09
- Europe: Rs 11,540.40
- North America & Australia: Rs 18,464.64
Akasa Air
Akasa Air, positioning itself as a value carrier, has also introduced fuel surcharges, though comparatively modest. Still, the broader pattern is clear. No airline is insulated from rising fuel costs, and no passenger is entirely shielded from the impact.
Fuel surcharge: Rs 199 – Rs 1,300 (depending on route and duration)
SpiceJet
SpiceJet Founder Ajay Singh said airlines will have “no choice” but to introduce fuel surcharges as costs continue to climb. He has urged the government to reduce taxes on jet fuel, warning that oil prices nearing $90 a barrel are “completely unsustainable.” Singh added that SpiceJet may even consider grounding aircraft if prices remain high, with airlines likely forced to reassess their expansion plans under such pressure.
This is not just an Indian story. Globally, airlines are navigating the same turbulence. Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows that over 43,000 flights in and out of the Middle East were cancelled within a span of just ten days. That scale of disruption has a cascading effect, tightening capacity, altering routes, and increasing operational strain.
