After IndiGo introduced higher fuel charges, Air India has now announced a revised fuel surcharge for both domestic and international flights, reflecting the surge in global jet fuel prices amid the ongoing West Asia conflict.For domestic travel, the airline will introduce a distance-based surcharge from April 8, with passengers paying between Rs 299 and Rs 899 per sector depending on the route. These revised charges will also apply to Air India Express flights.On international sectors, where fuel prices are not regulated, the increase is sharper. Jet fuel prices have risen to around $195 per barrel by late March, nearly double the levels seen at the end of February.Passengers flying to West Asia will now pay a surcharge of $50, while those travelling to Southeast Asia will be charged $100 and Singapore-bound passengers USD 60. Routes to Africa will see a surcharge of $130.For long-haul destinations, fares are set to climb further. Flights to Europe, including the United Kingdom, will carry a surcharge of $205 per sector, while routes to North America and Australia will see charges of USD 280 from April 10.Meanwhile, flight operations between India and West Asia have taken a major hit since the conflict in the region escalated, with more than 10,000 flights operated by Indian carriers cancelled so far, a senior government official said on Tuesday.Asangba Chuba Ao, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), said airlines that were earlier operating around 300–350 flights daily to West Asia are now running only 80-90 flights a day, underlining the sharp disruption in connectivity.The steep fall in operations reflects the growing impact of the West Asia conflict on aviation, with multiple countries imposing airspace restrictions that have forced airlines to cut services and reroute flights.The Ministry said the aviation sector was dealing with a “serious operational and financial situation” as airspace closures across Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE continue to affect the flight movement.Airlines such as Air India and IndiGo are now taking longer alternate routes for several international flights, especially to Europe and North America, resulting in extended travel time and higher operating costs.Despite the constraints, the government said Indian carriers had managed to maintain essential services, demonstrating operational flexibility in a rapidly changing situation.To ease pressure on airlines, the government has stepped in on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) pricing, which forms a significant portion of airline costs, helping keep domestic fares from rising sharply.The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also provided temporary relaxation in pilot duty norms to address crew shortages caused by longer flight durations.At the same time, foreign airlines including Emirates, Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways have been allowed to deploy passenger aircraft for cargo operations to ensure continuity in supply chains.However, the impact on passengers is becoming evident, with airfares moving up across routes.