en.Wedoany.com Reported - Air India has announced a reduction in fuel surcharges on select international routes, including those to North America, Australia, Europe, and the United Kingdom, citing a decline in global oil and aviation fuel prices. According to the Press Trust of India (PTI), fuel surcharges on routes to North America and Australia have been reduced from $280 to $200, while those on routes to Europe and the UK have been cut from $205 to $125. The revised surcharges took effect on July 1, and Air India declined to comment.
The adjustment comes amid easing geopolitical tensions in West Asia, which had previously driven a sharp rise in crude oil and aviation turbine fuel prices. As global fuel prices retreat from earlier highs, airlines are reassessing their surcharge structures. Citing industry sources, NDTV reported that airlines are adopting a wait-and-see approach, weighing whether to fully eliminate surcharges or gradually roll them back to balance fares with profitability.
Air India initially introduced fuel surcharges on April 7, when oil prices surged due to the West Asia conflict and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. According to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global aviation fuel prices rose from $99.40 per barrel at the end of February to $195.19 per barrel in the week ending March 27, an increase of nearly 100%. At that time, surcharges on international routes were set between $24 and $280, while domestic routes ranged from 299 to 899 rupees. Aviation turbine fuel accounts for approximately 40% to 45% of an airline's total operating costs and is a key driver of ticket prices.
Air India Express, the low-cost subsidiary of Air India, has resumed flight services to Salalah, Oman, and Kuwait, restoring full connectivity to West Asia. These flights had been suspended due to regional conflict-related disruptions. With fuel prices stabilizing and airspace conditions improving, flights are being restored in phases. The Kozhikode-Salalah route operates twice weekly from July 2, the Kozhikode-Kuwait route increases from once weekly to three times weekly from July 3, the Bengaluru-Kuwait route increases from once weekly to three times weekly from July 4, and the Muscat-Mangaluru route resumed on July 3. All flights to Kuwait operate from Terminal 4 of Kuwait International Airport.
Air India Express currently connects 13 destinations in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, operating approximately 780 weekly flights between India and West Asia. The airline has recently added new routes such as Navi Mumbai to Abu Dhabi, Guwahati to Dubai, and Bengaluru to Phuket. With the addition of new routes, Air India Express operates approximately 415 weekly flights from Bengaluru and about 85 weekly flights from Kozhikode.
