RPT-UPDATE 1-Indian carriers raise fares on rising fuel costs

(Repeats story issued late on Thursday)

(Recasts, addds Jet, Air India)

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI, June 19 (Reuters) - Low-cost carrier SpiceJet (SPJT.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) and state-run Air India are raising fares following rising jet-fuel prices, while Jet Airways (JET.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) has set minimum airfares for certain routes, officials said.

Spicejet is increasing airfares by 300 rupees on the short sectors and by 550 rupees on the long sectors, effective June 20, Chief Financial Officer Partha Sarathi Basu told Reuters over the telephone.

Basu also said the firm was working on pruning services in loss making routes and cutting down on flights "wherever we are not making money."

But no decision had been taken yet on how many routes to be cut, he said.

Air India is also increasing fares on distances varying from 750 km, 750-1,000 km, and over 1,000 km, effective June 20.

"The quantum of increase would vary within the slabs for different sectors, depending on their current fares," executive director of corporate communications, Jitender Bharghava, said.

Top private carrier Jet Airways (JET.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) has set a minimum fare of 1,000 rupees for routes up to 750 km and 3,000 rupees for routes over 1,000 km, which is already in force, a spokeswoman said.