Haj pilgrims face Rs 10,000 fare shock, airlines cite rising fuel costs

NEW DELHI: A last-minute cost escalation has hit roughly 1.3 lakh Indian Haj pilgrims, with the Haj Committee of India directing each to deposit an additional Rs 10,000—upto 11% increase over the base cost—a by May 15 as “differential airfare”—a revision triggered by rising Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices (commonly known as jet fuel) amid the ongoing Middle East crisis. Community leaders have said the air‑fare package had been fixed earlier between Rs 90,000 to Rs 1.6 lakh, which is what Haj airfares from India have ranged between in the past three years, depending on the city of departure (Mumbai being the lower end, while cities like Bangalore being the higher end.)To avoid conflict zones, flights are taking longer routes, consuming more fuel and increasing flight times by up to 40 minutes per trip, adding substantially in operational costs per flight. Mohd Ilyas, a security guard in Shaheen Bagh, said the "timing is devastating". He added: "I spent most of my working life saving for Haj, even skipping family milestones to build a modest corpus. This year, when I was finally going, came the April 28 circular. The hike has left me reeling.” For many elderly applicants and low-income families, the expenses for Haj—often exceeding Rs 4 lakh even under the government route—are meticulously planned over decades, or even entire lifetimes. The predictability of going through the government route has historically made it the preferred option, especially for first-time and elderly pilgrims. This additional demand—arriving just two weeks before the deadline—disrupts carefully calibrated budgets.The Haj Committee’s order applies to roughly 1,25,000 selected pilgrims. The revision follows airline demands, citing surging fuel costs linked to geopolitical instability in the Middle East.Officials said airlines initially sought a hike of over $400 per passenger. After negotiations, the ministry of minority affairs capped the increase at $100—roughly Rs 10,000—shifting that burden onto pilgrims. The gov said this has prevented a far sharper spike.The hike triggered political backlash—AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi called it “exploitation,” arguing that pilgrims are being penalised despite already paying. Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi criticised the move, calling the surcharge “utter injustice,” questioning why a fixed fare was revised so close to departure schedules.On its part, the ministry of minority affairs maintained that the revision was “transparent and necessary”—private tour operators have raised fares by even higher margins. “Various concerns and comments have been observed in several media platforms regarding the increase on Haj airfare. We share the concerns for every pilgrim who saves for years to perform Haj. That is precisely why the Haj Committee negotiated hard on their behalf,” the ministry stated.Union minister Kiren Rijiju reiterated that while the emotional significance of Haj is understood, the system cannot be insulated from global cost pressures. He said: “For countless families, Haj is a once-in-a-lifetime dream nurtured over years. I deeply respect that sentiment…We also can't blame Airlines...The decision was taken transparently, in good faith, to ensure no disruption.”Delhi Haj Committee chairperson Kausar Jahan told TOI that the govt had worked to contain costs amid a difficult global environment. The govt abolished Haj airfare subsidy in 2018, shifting the full cost burden onto pilgrims. While some states offer limited assistance, the system now operates largely on a cost-recovery basis, vulnerable to geopolitical instability.The abolition remains in effect. As of the Haj 2026 cycle, pilgrims are required to bear the full cost of the journey themselves. The first batch of pilgrims from India have already departed on April 18. Others are preparing to leave in the coming weeks. As one of the world’s largest religious mobilisations gathers pace, payment must be made through the Haj portal, the Haj Suvidha app, or designated bank branches by May 15.