irfares Skyrocket Up to 4 Times Higher as Airlines Hike Fuel Surcharges Amid Rising Jet Fuel Prices

• by Akanksha Mishra
• 2026-10-09 11:28:00

Heading home to celebrate upcoming festivities has suddenly turned into a heavy financial burden for millions of passengers. Driven by a continuous surge in the cost of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), major domestic and international carriers have drastically increased fuel surcharges, sending airfares soaring. For travelers departing from Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, ticket prices have skyrocketed by up to four times their normal rates just as families prepare to travel for the peak festive season encompassing Dussehra, Diwali, and Chhath.

Jet Fuel Prices Surge to ₹137 Per Litre Triggering Surcharge Hikes

The airline industry's abrupt tariff adjustments stem from mounting operational pressures and international energy market shifts:

Soaring ATF Costs: Domestic market prices for aviation turbine fuel have climbed to approximately ₹137 per litre, prompting airlines to adjust fuel surcharges to offset operational expenses.

Industry-Wide Revisions: Following earlier adjustments by IndiGo, premier carriers Air India and Air India Express have officially increased their fuel surcharges across multiple domestic and international routes.

Global Crude Pressures: Aviation experts warn that if international crude oil prices remain elevated, passengers can expect sustained high airfares throughout the upcoming travel windows.

Festival Fares Quadruple: Mumbai and Delhi to Varanasi Routes Hit Hard

With holiday demand peaking weeks in advance, travelers booking journeys home are facing exorbitant ticket costs:

Mumbai to Varanasi Surges: For travel on November 6, Air India fares have jumped roughly fourfold to around ₹23,000, while competing carriers like IndiGo and Akasa Air list tickets between ₹16,000 and ₹18,000.

Delhi and Hyderabad Connections: Fares connecting Delhi and Hyderabad to Varanasi have surged into the ₹14,000 to ₹19,000 bracket.

International Routes: Migrant workers and travelers returning from overseas hubs like Sharjah are seeing ticket prices exceed ₹35,000.

Impact on Migrants and Early Booking Concerns

The sharp spike in ticket pricing threatens to disrupt holiday plans for working professionals and families:

Burden on Migrant Workers: People living away from home for employment and education face daunting financial hurdles to reunite with families for Diwali and Chhath puja.

Advance Booking Warnings: Travel industry insiders caution that with tickets booked a month in advance already commanding multi-fold rates, prices are expected to climb even further as the festival dates draw closer.

Previous Post

When brother-in-law got married, sister-in-law got irritated, called him to the farm and then… how did one mistake become a noose around the neck?

Next Post

Asian Games Silver Medallist Shardul Vihaan Appointed UP Police Sub-Inspector by CM Yogi Adityanath