Stories
Flight Fuel Prices Soar by ₹16/Litre, Festive Airfares Jump Up to 3X
- •Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) for domestic airlines increased by ₹16 per litre from October 1, rising from ₹121 to ₹137, marking the steepest of three consecutive monthly hikes.
- •This fuel price surge, coupled with high festive demand for Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath, is causing airfares on popular domestic routes to climb sharply, with some reaching two to three times their usual levels.
- •Fuel costs can account for up to 40% of airline operating expenses, putting pressure on carriers, though airlines may absorb some costs depending on competition and demand.
- •Examples of fare increases include Mumbai–Kolkata flights reaching ₹15,000 (from ₹7,000), Bengaluru–Kolkata at ₹16,340, and Delhi–Patna during Chhath windows hitting ₹12,500 (from ₹4,000–₹5,000).
- •Travellers are advised to book early, compare airlines and airports, consider flexible dates, explore train options, and watch for last-minute capacity additions to manage rising costs.
Key Questions Answered
From October 1, domestic aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices jumped by around ₹16 per litre, rising from ₹121 to ₹137. This marked the steepest of three consecutive monthly increases, following a ₹5 hike in August and a ₹6.28 hike in September, with officials linking the broader upward trend partly to the situation in West Asia.
The government has stated that it will not impose a hard price cap on airfares for the festive season. Instead, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu noted that authorities are continuously engaging with and advising airlines to keep ticket rates at a reasonable level.
Airfares on several popular domestic routes have climbed sharply to two to three times their normal levels. For example, Mumbai–Kolkata direct flights rose to around ₹15,000 from typical levels closer to ₹7,000, Bengaluru–Kolkata tickets neared ₹16,340, and Delhi–Patna flights reached ₹12,500.
