Planning a trip to London? A Delhi–London return ticket that once cost Rs 60,000–80,000 is now crossing Rs 1 lakh — and often much higher for direct or last-minute bookings — due to airspace closures, longer rerouted flights, limited capacity, and war-risk insurance costs of up to Rs 20,000–35,000 per passenger.

The ongoing US-Israel war with Iran, which escalated in late February, has triggered a sharp rise in airline ticket prices affecting Indian travellers. Jet fuel prices have surged from around USD 85–90 per barrel to USD 150–200 in many markets following supply disruptions in the Gulf, near-paralysis of the Strait of Hormuz, and fears of prolonged shortages.