India’s state-owned oil refiners have held domestic jet fuel prices steady for June, responding to urgent appeals from airlines struggling to stay afloat amid the economic turbulence triggered by the Iran war.

The price of aviation turbine fuel for domestic routes will remain at ₹1,04,927 per kilolitre in New Delhi unchanged from May, when the government had already mandated a freeze following an 8.6 percent hike in April that sent airline operating costs sharply higher.

The decision offers a measure of breathing room for carriers that have spent recent months absorbing the compounding pressures of geopolitical instability, rising operational costs, and weakening passenger yields. Indian airlines had lobbied refiners to hold off on further increases, arguing that additional fuel cost burdens at this stage could prove destabilising for the sector.

Beyond the domestic freeze, refiners went a step further, cutting jet fuel prices for international routes as well, though the precise scale of the reduction was not immediately disclosed.

The move comes as global crude markets remain volatile. Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate have both pulled back from recent highs, giving refiners some flexibility to ease prices without taking a significant financial hit. India’s broader energy sector has been navigating the West Asia crisis carefully, balancing the need to protect domestic industries against the realities of a market still rattled by conflict.

For Indian airlines, the relief, however temporary arrives at a critical moment. IndiGo, the country’s largest carrier, recently posted a quarterly loss as flight cancellations and softer ticket pricing took their toll. Whether stabilised fuel costs will be enough to steady the sector through the remainder of the year remains an open question, particularly if tensions in the Middle East escalate further.