Air India and Air India Express will start levying a fuel surcharge of Rs 399 on each domestic flight ticket from March 12, as airlines face rising operating costs following a sharp increase in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices amid tensions in Middle East, reported PTI.The airline group said the surcharge will be implemented in phases across domestic and international routes due to the steep rise in jet fuel prices linked to the geopolitical situation in the Gulf region.In the first phase, a fuel surcharge of Rs 399 per domestic ticket will be imposed from March 12. The same surcharge will also apply to flights to SAARC destinations, the airline said in a statement on Tuesday.For West Asia routes, the surcharge will be USD 10 per ticket, while the charge for Africa flights will increase by USD 30 to USD 90.

The surcharge for Southeast Asia services will rise by USD 20 to USD 60.The airline also said the surcharge will now apply to flights to and from Singapore, where no such charge was levied earlier.“Air India group today announced a phased expansion of a fuel surcharge on its domestic and international routes, necessitated by the steep rise in jet fuel prices arising from the geopolitical situation in the Gulf region,” the statement said.