ATF price cut by 7%, commercial LPG rate up Rs 111 per cylinder: Can airfares decline?

New Delhi: Price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF), or jet fuel, was reduced by 7.3 per cent on Thursday, while commercial LPG rate was raised by Rs 111 per cylinder, as state-owned oil marketing companies implemented their monthly price revisions aligned with global fuel benchmarks. ATF price in Delhi was cut by Rs 7,353.75 per kilolitre, or 7.3 per cent, to Rs 92,323.02 per kl, according to state-owned fuel retailers.

The reduction comes after three rounds of monthly price hikes. The rate was last raised by Rs 5,133.75 per kl, or 5.4 per cent, on December 1. Prior to that prices had risen by about 1 per cent on November 1 and by 3.3 per cent on October 1. The cut announced Thursday neutralises more than two-thirds of the price increase that happened since October 1. The latest reduction is expected to ease pressure on airlines, for which fuel accounts for nearly 40 per cent of operating costs.

No immediate comments could be obtained from the airlines on the impact of the price change. In Mumbai, ATF price was revised to Rs 86,352.19 per kl, while prices in Chennai and Kolkata were cut to Rs 95,770 and Rs 95,378.02 per kl, respectively. Fuel prices vary across cities due to local taxes.

Alongside, the price of a 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder used by hotels and restaurants was hiked by a steep Rs 111 to Rs 1,691.50 in Delhi. The price increase comes on the back of two rounds of monthly reduction. Prices were last cut by Rs 15.50 per 19-kg cylinder on December 1. Prior to that the rate was reduced by Rs 5 per cylinder.

Commercial LPG prices are now at their highest level since June last year. Prices of domestic LPG, used in household kitchens for cooking, remained unchanged at Rs 853 per 14.2-kg cylinder, following a Rs 50 hike in April 2025. Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum revise ATF and LPG prices on the first day of every month based on international benchmarks and the exchange rate.

While oil prices have moderated over the last one month, winter heating requirement have pushed up LPG rates in global markets. Petrol and diesel prices continue to remain frozen after a Rs 2 per-litre reduction in March last year; petrol currently costs Rs 94.72 per litre in Delhi and diesel Rs 87.62.