Escalating tensions in West Asia are causing international airfares from India to skyrocket, just as travelers gear up for the summer holiday season. Puneet, an IT professional based in Ahmedabad, felt the impact firsthand when he checked ticket prices for a conference at the end of April. In January, he paid around Rs 98,000 for a round-trip to the US. By April, that price had nearly doubled to Rs 1.94 lakh, and just days later, his colleague faced fares nearing Rs 2.7 lakh.
The ongoing conflict now entering its fifth week is driving up jet fuel costs and creating uncertainties for airlines, especially those based in the Gulf region which connect Indian cities with destinations like the US and Europe. Disruptions in oil-exporting routes have sent crude prices soaring globally.
Industry experts report that international airfare from India has surged between 40% and 60% over the past month alone. Tickets to London have jumped from roughly Rs 55,000-60,000 to close to Rs 1 lakh. Similarly steep increases are seen on US routes where fares have climbed to between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh, compared to around Rs 90,000. Canadian flights also show significant fare hikes from about Rs 80,000 to nearly Rs 1.4 lakh.
Ankit Bajaj, a travel company owner in Ahmedabad, noted that non-Gulf carriers are adjusting fares even more sharply than their Gulf counterparts—though flying with Gulf airlines comes with its own risks due to extended refund times of up to **45 days** for cancellations linked to current conflicts.
This uncertainty has led many travelers to reconsider or cancel their trips entirely. Estimates suggest only one in ten planned summer trips will go ahead as scheduled. Manish Sharma, a travel expert, highlighted that cancellations aren’t limited to international flights; rising aviation turbine fuel prices could soon affect domestic travel costs as well.
Fuel Surge Hits Fares
Affected by these increases, IndiGo announced changes effective April 2 regarding fuel charges across all routes due to jet fuel costs rising over **130%** month-on-month according to IATA data. While some pass-through measures were implemented domestically—capping adjustments at **25%**—fare hikes remain necessary across sectors with charges now ranging between **Rs 275-950** domestically and **Rs 900-10,000** internationally.