Airlines Are Hiking Fuel Surcharges in the Wake of Middle East War

The war in the Middle East has led to a significant spike in crude oil prices, which in turn increases the cost of the gas we put in our cars and, of course, jet fuel.

With fuel being one of, if not the highest cost for an airline, carriers around the globe are feeling the pinch, and soon, we, the consumers, will be feeling it too, in the form of increased fuel surcharges on tickets across the board.

Several airlines have already announced significant increases in these fees, and we expect more to follow if the war drags on and fuel prices continue to rise.

Here’s what to know.

Several Airlines Announce Fuel Surcharge and Fare Increases

We’re learning of several airlines that are raising fuel surcharges or base fares in response to the skyrocketing cost of jet fuel in the wake of the war in the Middle East.

Cathay Pacific of Hong Kong announced that it is doubling (at a minimum) the fuel surcharges it levies on all ticket types from March 18, 2026.

For all tickets booked on March 18 and beyond, this is what fuel surcharges on Cathay flights will look like:

• Surcharges on short-haul flights will rise from their current HK$142 (~$18) to HK$290 (~$37).
• Surcharges on medium-haul flights will rise from their current HK$264 (~$34) to HK$541 (~$69).
• Surcharges on long-haul flights will rise from their current HK$569 (~$73) to HK$1,164 (~$149).

Cathay Pacific isn’t the only airline to announce fee or fare hikes. Here’s a look at what other carriers have announced so far:

• AirAsia, the region’s largest low-cost carrier, has increased fares and adjusted its fuel surcharges, but it hasn’t disclosed by how much.
• Air India and Air India Express are increasing fuel surcharges in 2 waves, depending on the destination.
  • As of today, March 12, 2026, the carriers are adding a $4.35 surcharge to domestic, South Asia, West Asia, and Middle East flights. Flights to Southeast Asia will see a surcharge increase from $40 to $60, and Africa flights will see an increase from $60 to $90.
  • From March 18, 2026, surcharges on flights to Europe will rise to $125 from $100, and North American and Australian flights will see levies jump from $150 to $200.
• Air New Zealand has raised fares from March 10, 2026, though it hasn’t specified by how much. It said it may adjust prices in the future if oil prices warrant it.
• Finnair has indicated that it has adjusted ticket prices to reflect the increase in jet fuel costs.
• Qantas, Australia’s flag carrier, said it has raised prices by an average of 5% on international routes.
• SAS has implemented price increases due to the fuel price spike, though it says they are temporary.

While these are the carriers that have announced fuel surcharge increases, we expect more will follow in the coming days and weeks, as volatility remains high and oil prices could continue to increase.

Final Thoughts

Several carriers have already announced fare increases or higher fuel surcharges in response to the precipitous spike in oil prices driven by the ongoing war in the Middle East. As the war continues, we expect to see more carriers take similar action.

If you have travel on the horizon, it’d be wise to lock in your tickets now to hedge against possible price hikes.