NEW DELHI: Flying could soon get even more expensive. Oil marketing companies on Thursday hiked aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices by the steepest ever (in one go) 16. 3% which now, for instance, costs an all-time high of Rs 1. 41 lakh per kilo litre (kl, or 1,000 litres) in Delhi. Coupled with a weaker rupee, the operating cost for Covid-ravaged airlines has shot up, some of whom now say airfare hike is inevitable to survive.
SpiceJet CMD Ajay Singh has termed these ATF prices “not sustainable” and said an immediate “minimum 10-15% increase in fares is required”. Comments from other airlines were sought and awaited till the time of going to press.
