Ahmedabad: Escalating tensions in West Asia have triggered a sharp surge in international airfares from India, disrupting travel plans and dampening demand ahead of the peak summer holiday season.Puneet, an Ahmedabad-based IT professional, recently experienced the volatility firsthand. He had travelled to the US in January for a work conference, paying around Rs 98,000 for a return ticket. However, when he attempted to book tickets for another conference scheduled at the end of April, fares for a similar route had nearly doubled to Rs 1.94 lakh.“What’s more surprising is that just three days later, when my colleague booked the same flight, the round-trip fare had surged further to nearly Rs 2.7 lakh,” he said.The ongoing conflict in West Asia, now in its fifth week, has led to rising jet fuel costs and operational uncertainties, particularly for Gulf-based carriers that form a crucial link between Indian cities and destinations such as the US, Canada, the UK and Europe. Disruptions in key oil export routes have pushed up crude prices, which in turn has translated into higher airfares globally.Industry estimates suggest that international airfares from India have risen by 40–60% over the past month. Tickets to London, which earlier ranged between Rs 55,000 and Rs 60,000, are now nearing Rs 1 lakh. Similarly, return fares to the US have climbed to between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh, compared to around Rs 90,000 earlier. Canada routes have also seen a significant jump, with fares rising from about Rs 80,000 to nearly Rs 1.4 lakh.Travel industry players say the increase was more pronounced on non-Gulf carriers, even as Gulf airlines continue to offer relatively lower fares, albeit with added risks. “Rerouted flight paths, higher fuel costs and capacity constraints due to restricted airspace are key factors. Airlines are operating longer routes with additional layovers, increasing both travel time and costs,” said Ankit Bajaj, a city-based travel company owner.Passengers are also facing reduced baggage allowances in some cases, as airlines attempt to optimise loads.While Gulf carriers remain cheaper, travellers are cautious due to extended refund timelines of up to 45 days in case of cancellations linked to the conflict. With uncertainty looming large, international travel demand has taken a hit. Industry insiders estimate that only one in ten travellers are proceeding with pre-planned summer trips. “We are seeing a surge in cancellations for international bookings. Even domestic travel could become costlier due to rising aviation turbine fuel prices,” said travel expert Manish Sharma.Box: Fuel surge hits faresIndiGo has revised fuel charges across domestic and international routes from April 2, citing a sharp spike in air turbine fuel prices, the airline announced on Wednesday. As per IATA data, jet fuel costs in the region have risen more than 130% month on month. While the Centre has allowed only a staggered 25% pass-through for domestic operations to protect affordability, airlines are still adjusting fares. IndiGo will now levy Rs 275-950 per sector on domestic routes, depending on distance. For international routes, fuel charges range from Rs 900 to Rs 10,000 per sector, with UK and Europe routes seeing the steepest increase.
