Air fares to go up marginally due to rising oil prices

New Delhi, May 1 (UNI) Domestic airfares are creeping up as global crude prices hover around 68 dollars a barrel and Indian oil companies have increased air turbine fuel (ATF) prices by 3.5 per cent from today.

Airlines executives said they don't have any other option to pass on the additional financial burden on passengers. Though they are yet to decide on the exact amount of the increase in fuel surcharge, it will be within Rs 200 per ticket.

At present, airlines charge Rs 750 as fuel surcharge and this is expected to go up to Rs 900. In addition to this, all carriers except Air Deccan and Indian Airlines are levying congestion surcharge of Rs 150. Apart from this, airport tax of Rs 225 is charged on passengers in addition to the basic fare.

''We will increase fuel surcharge, we don't know by how much,'' said Indian's chairman and managing director Vishwapati Trivedi.

Go Air's managing director Jeh Wadia said fuel surcharge is bound to go up. ''We will take a decision in a day or two. It may in the range of Rs 100 to Rs 200.'' More UNI