The Growing List of Airlines Adding Fuel Surcharges This Month

The escalating conflict in the Middle East has not slowed the travel industry’s momentum this year, but it has significantly affected airfares.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global average jet fuel prices rose to $195.19 per barrel for the week ending March 27, 2026. This represents a 96.4% increase in just one month, compared with the price of $99.40 per barrel at the end of February.

For many carriers, even with the drop in prices overnight on Tuesday, jet fuel has jumped from approximately 25% of total operating costs to nearly 45% in a matter of weeks. In response, airlines have started to levy fuel surcharges—extra, temporary charges intended to cover soaring fuel costs as carriers navigate the price volatility.

While no major U.S. carrier has added a fuel surcharge (most have opted for permanent checked-baggage price increases instead), a growing list of international airlines has. Here are the latest:

Asiana Airlines

Asiana Airlines is increasing its fuel surcharges for tickets issued on or after April 1, 2026, with new rates varying by destination and cabin class. For flights originating in North America, Central America, or South America, the surcharge for travel to South Korea has increased to $405 for business class and $305 for economy per leg. Routes to Japan will now carry a flat $192 fee across all cabins, while travel to other major Asian hubs—including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia—has risen to $300 for business class and $200 for economy.

Air India

Air India is introducing new fuel surcharges for international routes that reach as high as $280 per leg. Starting April 10, flights to and from North America and Australia will carry that $280 fee, while Europe routes will see a $205 surcharge. Other regions, effective as of April 8, include Africa at $130, China at $100, Singapore at $60, and West Asia and the Middle East at $50. For domestic India travel, the airline has replaced its flat fee with a distance-based grid. At current exchange rates, these surcharges range from approximately $3.60 to $10.80 per flight.

Air France-KLM

Air France-KLM has begun implementing long-haul fuel surcharges as of early April. The group is currently adding a €50 (approx. $54) surcharge to long-haul economy round-trips. It also said that these surcharges will remain as a “contractual adjustment” until jet fuel volatility slows down.

British Airways

As of this week, British Airways has introduced surcharges on long-haul routes, particularly those heading to the Asia-Pacific region. For flights from London to Singapore, surcharges have added roughly €150 ($163) to the total ticket price.

Cathay Pacific

Effective April 1, 2026, Cathay Pacific doubled its fuel levy across all long-haul routes. The carrier’s surcharge for flights to North America, Europe, and the Southwest Pacific is now approximately HK$1,560 ($200).

Emirates

For flights to the Americas, Emirates is adding a fuel surcharge of $322 for economy and $1,023 for business and first class per leg. Travel to Europe carries a $226 surcharge for economy and $623 for premium cabins, while routes to Australia and New Zealand are set at $302 and $958, respectively. Emirates says these surcharges are reviewed monthly and apply based on the ticketing date, regardless of when the travel occurs.

EVA Air

EVA Air is adjusting its insurance and fuel surcharges for all travel and ticketing issued on or after March 18, 2026, with the specific increase determined by the country of journey origin. For flights originating in the U.S., the surcharge for travel between Taiwan and the U.S. or Canada has increased to $120 per sector, while regional routes and flights to Australia remain unchanged at $36. For journeys originating in Canada, the fee for travel between Taiwan and North America has risen to 150 Canadian dollars, while routes to Australia and other international sectors have increased to 66 Canadian dollars per leg.

IndiGo

IndiGo, India’s largest carrier, introduced a new distance-based fuel charge for all new bookings starting April 2. On domestic routes, the fee is tiered by distance, ranging from approximately $3.30 for flights under 500 kilometers to $11.40 for flights over 2,000 kilometers. For international travel, the surcharges are higher; long-haul sectors to the U.K. and Europe now attract a flat fee of approximately $120 per leg.

Japan Airlines

Japan Airlines has an international fuel surcharge in place for April and May 2025. For tickets issued between April 1 and May 31, 2025, long-haul sectors including North America, Europe, Oceania, and the Middle East will carry a surcharge of $351 per flight. Medium-haul routes to Hawaii, Indonesia, India, and Sri Lanka are set at $228, while travel to Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia will see a $179 fee per leg. Surcharges for short-haul regional travel have also been updated, with flights to East Asia set at $79 and travel to Korea and Far East Russia at $33 per leg.

Korean Air

Korean Air tripled its international fuel surcharges on April 1. The airline’s new surcharge scale for April ranges from approximately $31 to $225 per one-way trip.

Qantas

Qantas joined the list of carriers adding immediate surcharges this week, with some long-haul tickets seeing increases of $100 to $800 depending on the route and cabin class.

Sichuan Airlines

Sichuan Airlines is adjusting its fuel surcharges for all international routes between mainland China and the U.S. Flights departing from the U.S. now carry a $135 one-way surcharge. For flights departing from mainland China, the surcharge is set at 900 yuan, which is approximately $124. For round-trip travel between the two countries, the total combined surcharge will be roughly $259.

STARLUX Airlines

STARLUX Airlines is adjusting its fuel surcharges for all international itineraries, with long-haul trans-Pacific routes seeing the most significant increases. Effective April 7, long-haul flights departing from Taiwan—including all routes to the U.S.—now carry a surcharge of $117 per sector. Short-haul regional flights within Asia have increased to $45 per leg. For itineraries originating in Hong Kong, the long-haul surcharge has more than doubled to approximately $149 per leg.

WestJet

WestJet is adding a $60 fuel surcharge on all bookings made using a companion voucher starting April 8. In an email to guests, WestJet explained it is targeting companion vouchers because they have fixed prices that lack the pricing flexibility of standard airfares. The airline stated the surcharge is a temporary measure until jet fuel prices return to normal levels.