Airlines Introduce Extra Charge on All Routes Amid Surge in Jet Fuel Prices
In the Maldives, the price of jet fuel at Velana International Airport and other airports managed by Maldives Airports Company Limited has risen to $1.69 per litre, up from $1.19. | Photo: VIA
Major airlines have announced the introduction of a new charge on both domestic and international flights, citing a sharp rise in aviation fuel prices linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
One major airline which operates to the Maldives, Indigo, said the additional charge follows a steep increase in fuel prices. Data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) indicates that jet fuel prices in the region have surged by more than 85 percent. The spike comes after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, through which more than one million barrels of crude oil pass daily, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
The airline noted that Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) represents a significant share of operating costs for airlines, and the sudden surge in prices is expected to place considerable pressure on operating expenses and route networks across the aviation sector.
Under the revised pricing structure, IndiGo will apply an additional fuel charge per sector depending on the route. The airline said passengers travelling within domestic and the Indian subcontinent will pay an additional ₹425 (USD 4.60) per sector. Flights to the Middle East will include a ₹900 (USD 9.75) fuel charge, while routes to Southeast Asia and China, as well as Africa, will carry a ₹1,800 (USD 19.5) charge. Passengers travelling to Europe will face the highest additional fee of ₹2,300 (USD 24.90) per sector.
Besides IndiGo, several other major airlines that operate regular flights to the Maldives have also warned that the sudden surge in jet fuel prices may force them to increase ticket prices or introduce additional charges.
In the Maldives, the price of jet fuel at Velana International Airport and other airports managed by Maldives Airports Company Limited has risen to $1.69 per litre, up from $1.19, marking a 42% increase. MACL Managing Director Ibrahim Shareef attributed the hike to rising global oil prices driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East involving Iran.
