India Airfares to Skyrocket as Jet Fuel Prices Surge Over 100% Amid Iran Conflict

NEW DELHI, April 1, 2026 — Air travelers are facing a staggering increase in ticket costs as domestic oil marketing companies announced a historic hike in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices for April. Driven by the intensifying conflict involving Iran and its subsequent impact on global oil supplies, jet fuel prices have more than doubled overnight.

On Wednesday, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) confirmed that ATF rates surged by approximately 115% for domestic operations and 107% for international flights, reflecting the severe economic fallout and investor anxiety currently rattling Indian markets.For the first time in history, jet fuel prices in India have breached the ₹2 lakh mark.

At Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), the price per kilolitre (KL) jumped to ₹2,07,341.22, a massive leap from last month’s rate of ₹96,638.14. Other major hubs are seeing similar spikes; Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) recorded a 115% increase to ₹1,94,968.67, while rates in Kolkata and Chennai have climbed to ₹2,05,953.33 and ₹2,14,597.66 per KL, respectively.

The crisis extends to international travel, where ATF pricing has surpassed the $1,000 threshold for the first time in the country. In Delhi, international fuel costs rose to $1,690.81 per KL, up from $816.91 in March.

Travelers are facing a “double whammy” as the Indian rupee has simultaneously plunged to an all-time low, further inflating the cost of dollar-denominated fuel purchases.

With fuel accounting for nearly half of an airline’s operating expenses, carriers including IndiGo and Air India have already begun implementing fuel surcharges ranging from ₹150 to $200, signaling an end to the era of discounted fares and high-frequency flight schedules.