Overview
- Air India reduced temporary fuel surcharges on select long‑haul routes effective July 1, cutting charges for North America and Australia to $200 from $280 and for Europe/UK to $125 from $205.
- All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines increased fuel surcharges for tickets sold in July and August, with some long‑haul levies topping about $400 because their formulas use April–May average fuel costs and recent yen weakness.
- Carriers calculate surcharges on different schedules: some use lagged multi‑month averages or bi‑monthly updates, which can make fees rise even after spot jet‑fuel prices fall.
- Airlines say they are in a wait‑and‑watch mode and will only consider full removals if price declines prove durable, since jet fuel still represents roughly 40–45% of operating costs and margins were hit earlier this year.
- The partial rollback and restored West Asia flights by Air India Express will lower fares for some travelers in the near term, but longer‑term relief depends on sustained fuel declines, aircraft delivery delays, and limits on sustainable aviation fuel supplies.