NEW DELHI: After IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express and Akasa have also hiked fuel surcharge due to spiralling price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF/jet fuel) and falling rupee, which is acting as a double whammy at a time when air traffic is also beginning to decline as higher fares are seeing price-sensitive domestic travellers shift to other modes of transport.Flying will get even more expensive this festive season. Air India group’s new distance-based surcharge for domestic flights now ranges between Rs 400 (upto 500 km) and Rs 1,200 (over 2,000 km). The surcharge on international flights now ranges between $55 (West Asia) and $215 (North America).“The latest increase in fuel prices has further elevated operating costs for airlines, with fuel continuing to account for a substantial proportion of overall airline expenditure,” Air India said in a statement. Akasa’s earlier fuel surcharge was in the range of Rs 199 and Rs 1,300. This range will now be between Rs 375 and Rs 2,500.