How the West Asia war is impacting airfares and what should you do

₹25,000. By late February, as war broke out across West Asia, it had nearly doubled to ₹45,000.

Within days of the conflict escalating, it climbed to ₹75,000—a threefold jump in under two months.“I postponed my trip because it was not safe and prices kept increasing,” Reddy said. He eventually travelled on 21 March, reasoning that Central Asia was far enough from the epicentre.

But the episode has changed how he approaches work and leisure travel. Short vacations clubbed with business trips are now indefinitely on hold.He is not alone.Rising airfares are hitting not just business travel but also leisure demand—typically expected to pick up after the exam season ends.Rikant Pittie, CEO and co-founder of EaseMyTrip, said the platform is seeing domestic price increases of around 5–10%, especially on high-traffic leisure routes and for last-minute bookings.

Internationally, the jump is sharper: short-haul routes are up 20–30%, as travellers pivot to stable destinations and airlines adjust capacity amid operational constraints.The aviation industry is facing pressure from three fronts simultaneously.First, aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices have surged. The International Air Transport Association’s Jet Fuel Monitor recorded an increase of over 85%.Second, restricted airspace across conflict zones is forcing airlines to reroute flights, adding flying time and increasing fuel burn.Third, passenger demand on certain international corridors is softening as ticket prices rise and travellers reassess plans.Inevitably, a significant part of this cost is being passed on through fuel surcharges, fewer route options, and higher base fares.IndiGo, India’s largest carrier, introduced a fuel surcharge across all domestic and international