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Air India and its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express have announced a fuel surcharge increase for passengers travelling between the UAE and India, which will come into effect from Thursday, March 12.

Under the new measure, travellers booking tickets from March 12 onward will pay an additional $10 (about Dh36.70) per ticket for flights on the UAE-India route.

The surcharge will not apply to tickets booked before March 12, unless passengers later modify their travel dates or itinerary, in which case the additional charge may be applied.

Why ticket prices are increasing

The airline group said the surcharge is being introduced due to rising aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices, which have surged amid geopolitical tensions linked to the Middle East conflict.

Fuel is one of the highest costs for airlines, accounting for around 40% of total operating expenses. In India, these costs are even higher due to excise duty and VAT imposed in major cities such as Delhi and Mumbai.

Air India said the surcharge is necessary to manage operating costs and avoid potential flight disruptions, adding that the charges will be reviewed periodically depending on fuel price trends.

Three-phase rollout of the surcharge

The UAE-India increase is part of a broader three-phase plan affecting other international routes.

Phase 1 – starting March 12

• Southeast Asia: surcharge rises $20, bringing the total to $60 (from $40)
• Singapore: fuel surcharge introduced for the first time
• Africa: surcharge increases $30, reaching $90 (from $60)

Phase 2 – starting March 18

• Europe: surcharge rises $25, reaching $125
• North America: surcharge increases $50, reaching $200
• Australia: surcharge increases $50, reaching $200

Phase 3

• Will cover Far East destinations such as Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea, with details to be announced later.