new delhi india is witnessing a swift recovery in domestic air travel as the pandemic subsides the countrys biggest airline indigo is now operating more domestic flights on peak travel days like weekends or holidays than it did before covid on the back of increased connections to smaller cities but flight tickets could soon cost more as the combined pressure of rising jet fuel prices and falling rupee has reached a point where airlines need to pass on this hike in operating cost to passengers in terms of higher faresindigo ceo ronojoy dutta said in prepandemic times we had about 1600 daily flights of which 400 to 450 were international currently we have about 1400 daily flights of which nearly 80 are international these numbers vary from lean to peak travel days the peaks are looking good the government has allowed 100 domestic capacity and our bookings at this time are 9095 of precovid levelsbut the incessant rise in aviation turbine fuel atf or jet fuel prices and fall in rupee could now force airlines to increase fares to avoid going bustcrude has gone from 43 a barrel last october to 84 now we need some relief on taxes fares need to reflect higher fuel price higher operating cost added to by the falling rupee fuel is a problem and fares have to be brought higher dutta saidairlines around the world got some government help we didnt get any which is fine but excise on fuel 11 and other indirect taxes in india are very high airlines pay 21 indirect tax and this is effectively the highest for any industry in india because we dont get input tax credit on fuel this needs to be softened as we are a critical infra player dutta saidmeanwhile preparing for competition from tataair india indigo has ordered new improved softer and more comfortable seats for its entire fleet the order has been placed for the new seats dutta saidindigo is going to start getting the airbus a321 xlr extralong range on which it will do up to sevenhour nonstops to cities like tel aviv milan and dusseldorf it is finalising the product for these flights that will include the new seats ovens for hot meals and inseat plug sockets so that passenger their keep personal electronic devices charged during the journey