After the surge in oil prices, airlines in many Asian countries collectively imposed fuel surcharges, leading to a general increase in international ticket prices.

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The Iran war has triggered severe fluctuations in international oil prices, and Asia’s airline industry is now facing a new wave of collective price increases. Low-cost carriers and full-service airlines have successively announced increases to fuel surcharges or ticket prices, with some airlines even issuing warnings of flight suspensions, causing travel costs to climb rapidly.

Qantas Airways has announced an average 5% increase in international fares, pointing out that aviation fuel prices have risen by more than 150% in the past two weeks. Air India and AirAsia have also released adjustment plans. For Air India, the fuel surcharge for routes to Europe will rise by $25 to $125 starting March 18, and for routes to North America and Australia, the surcharge will rise by $50 to $200.

The turmoil in the Middle East has simultaneously fueled demand for alternative, rerouted flights, further pushing ticket prices higher. According to flight data analysis firm Cirium Ltd, from February 28 to March 10, more than 43,000 flights to and from the Middle East were canceled. As a result, the load factor on Qantas’ European routes has already exceeded 90% this month, far above the usual level of about 75%. Air New Zealand, when announcing fare increases, also withdrew its profit guidance, stating that "the fuel cost assumptions announced at the end of last month are no longer applicable."

Ajay Singh, founder of India’s SpiceJet, warned that even if oil prices stay at $90 per barrel, it’s 'completely unsustainable' for airlines, and called for the government to lower the aviation fuel tax. He said that if high oil prices persist, SpiceJet is considering grounding some aircraft, and other airlines may be forced to review their expansion plans.

Details of Surcharge Adjustments by Airlines

Several major Asian airlines have announced their specific adjustment plans, with the degree of increase varying by flight distance.

Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express announced that starting from March 12, fuel surcharges will be levied in phases: On domestic flights and flights to South Asia, West Asia, and the Middle East, a surcharge of 399 rupees (about $4.35) per ticket will be added; for flights to Southeast Asia, the surcharge will increase from $40 to $60, for flights to Africa, from $60 to $90. Starting March 18, the surcharge for Europe-bound flights will increase by $25 to $125, and for North America and Australia, by $50 to $200. Adjustment plans for routes to Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea will be announced separately.

Hong Kong Airlines will raise fuel surcharges on several routes from March 12, with surcharges to the Maldives, Nepal, and Bangladesh rising by 35%, adding HK$100 (about $12.80) per ticket. For long-haul destinations like Australia and North America, surcharges will increase by HK$150 to HK$739.

AirAsia has announced it will raise ticket prices and adjust fuel surcharges but has not disclosed specific figures, stating only it will "dynamically monitor the market situation and respond proactively as necessary."

Industry Warnings Heat Up, Some Airlines Remain Cautious

Although many airlines have actively followed with price adjustments, Japan Airlines stated that while it already imposes fuel surcharges on international routes, it currently has no plans to make early changes, and the current arrangement will remain until after April 1 before reconsideration.

Pressure signals at the industry level are intensifying. Ajay Singh of SpiceJet bluntly said that in a high oil price environment, airlines will 'have no choice' but to pass on fuel costs to passengers, calling on the government to cut fuel taxes to ease the industry’s burden. If the Middle East conflict continues to escalate and aviation fuel supply faces a real shortage, Asian airlines may see further cost pressures, and their business strategies and expansion plans will face even greater uncertainty.

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