New Delhi, April 1 -- In a move aimed at protecting domestic air travel from a sharp global fuel shock, the government has limited the increase in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices for domestic airlines to 25%, even as international benchmarks indicated a potential surge of over 100%.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said the decision comes in response to an "extraordinary situation in global energy markets," triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. To prevent a steep rise in airfares, public sector oil marketing companies, in consultation with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, implemented only a partial and staggered increase.

"ATF prices in India were deregulated in 2001 and are revised on monthly basis based on a for...