Air travel is expected to get costlier in the coming days as oil marketing companies on Wednesday raised the aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices 18 per cent to record Rs 1,10,666.26 per kilolitre, all time high levels for the second time in March after international oil price surged to a multi-year high .
The increase - sixth straight this year - led to prices soaring past the Rs 1-lakh-per-kilolitre mark for the first time ever. Fuel retailers revise jet fuel prices on a fortnightly basis.
At present, fuel based expenses account for over 30 percent of the overall operating cost of an airline. Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) - the fuel that helps aeroplanes fly - was hiked by 17,135.63 per kl, or 18.3 per cent, to Rs 110,666.29 per kl in the national capital, according to a price notification by state-owned fuel retailers. International oil prices had climbed to a 14-year high of near USD 140 per barrel last week on fears of supply disruption following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Rates have since mellowed to around USD 100 per barrel. In Mumbai, ATF price soared to Rs 109,119.83 a kl and it costs Rs 114,979.70 in Kolkata. Jet fuel is priced at Rs 114,133.73 per kl in Chennai. Jet fuel, which makes up for almost 40 per cent of the running cost of an airline, has this year surged to new highs. The previous peak of Rs 71,028.26 per kl was recorded in August 2008, when international crude oil prices touched USD 147 per barrel. Brent crude oil on Wednesday was trading just above USD 100 per barrel.
ATF prices have increased every fortnight since the start of 2022. In six hikes beginning January 1, ATF prices have been increased by Rs 36,643.88 kl or almost 50 per cent.