Travellers eyeing a long-haul international trip have some good news. Cashing in on softer crude oil prices, Air India has reduced the temporary fuel surcharge on flights heading to the US, Europe, the UK and Australia. The revised rates came into force on July 1. The relief, however, is limited to these routes, as domestic flights and other international sectors will continue to attract the earlier charges.
How Much Each Route Drops
Passengers flying to North America and Australia will now pay a fuel surcharge of $200 per ticket, down from the earlier $280. For flights to Europe and the United Kingdom, the charge has been cut from $205 to $125. Anyone planning to travel on these routes can expect a slightly lighter bill.
Why the Charge Was Lowered
Back in April, the ongoing conflict in West Asia and the airspace restrictions that followed sent crude oil and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices climbing sharply. Faced with those rising costs, Air India decided on April 7 to bring in a temporary fuel surcharge, with the new rates taking effect from April 10. Over the past few weeks, crude oil prices in the international market have come down significantly, easing the airline's operating costs and paving the way for this reduction for flyers.
What About Domestic Flights
For now, this relief applies only to flights to the US, Europe, the UK and Australia. Domestic flights and other international routes will keep running on the old rates, which means passengers on those sectors will not see any major savings just yet.
How Much Cheaper Will Tickets Get
A lower fuel surcharge can shave a bit off the total ticket cost on these routes. But the final fare does not hinge on this alone; it also factors in the base fare, taxes, demand and seat availability. So exactly how much you save will only become clear from the total fare worked out at the time of booking.
