ไทย
2026 marks a challenging turning point for the global aviation industry due to the persistently high cost of Jet A-1 fuel resulting from the Middle East conflict, particularly affecting key aviation hubs connecting Asia, Europe, and the Americas. In addition to major airlines in the Middle East that have had to cancel numerous flights, airlines in Europe, Asia, and Thailand themselves are gradually reducing flight frequencies and temporarily suspending services on some routes to escape the crisis of significantly decreased costs and market demand. This situation has not only impacted global flight schedules but has also severely affected ticket pricing structures. All airlines have increased ticket prices to reflect rising fuel costs, with some routes seeing price increases of more than double.
People rushed to use the Fuel Surcharge system.
Furthermore, various airlines have recently made another major move by announcing an increase in fuel surcharges for international tickets. This is to manage fuel costs in line with volatile market conditions, as surcharges are adjusted when global oil prices rise or when there is tension in the global energy situation. Previously, Cathay Pacific had nearly doubled fuel surcharges on all routes since mid-March after aviation fuel prices almost doubled due to the conflict in Iran that began on February 28. For example, short-distance routes have increased from HK$142 (approximately 578 THB) to HK$290 (approximately 1,180 THB), medium-distance routes from HK$264 (approximately 1,070 THB) to HK$541 (approximately 2,200 THB), and long-distance routes from HK$569 (approximately 2,300 THB) to HK$1,164 (approximately 4,700 THB), more than double the previous amount.
Similarly, Hong Kong Airlines announced a fuel surcharge increase of up to 35.2% since mid-March. In addition, several Chinese airlines have announced significant increases in fuel surcharges, including China Southern (Chongqing route: 960 baht/person increase), Shenzhen Airlines (Xi’an route: 960 baht/person increase), Kunming Airlines (Kunming route: 960 baht/person increase), Urumqi Air (Xinjiang route: 1,440 baht/person increase), Air Chang’an (Wuchang route: 770 baht/person increase), and Shandong Airlines (Qingdao route: 1,000 baht/person increase), among others.
JAL-ANA-TG launch date: May 1st.
Recently, Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA), two of Japan’s leading airlines, announced a dramatic increase in their fuel surcharges for tickets departing or booked between May 1st and June 30th, 2026. This has caused the fuel surcharge graph to surge back to its highest level in almost five years.
For the Thailand-Japan route, ANA’s fares have been adjusted from 16,300 yen (approximately 3,800 baht) per one-way trip to 29,000 yen (approximately 6,800 baht), with a round-trip fuel surcharge increase of 58,000 yen or approximately 13,600 baht. Similarly, JAL’s fares have increased from 15,500 yen (approximately 3,600 baht) per one-way trip to 29,600 yen (approximately 6,900 baht), with a round-trip fuel surcharge increase of 59,200 yen or approximately 13,800 baht. For long-haul routes (Europe/North America/Oceania), both ANA and JAL will increase fares by approximately 29,000 – 31,900 yen per flight, to 56,000 yen. This includes a round-trip increase in fuel surcharges of over 100,000 yen, or more than 20,000 baht. Both Japanese airlines will implement the fare increases simultaneously on May 1, 2026.
Similarly, Thai Airways has announced an adjustment to its fuel surcharge for international flights to reflect the volatile global market for aviation fuel. This adjustment affects five routes to Japan, effective May 1, 2026, in response to higher-than-expected aviation fuel prices.
This includes routes from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Sapporo, with the following new rates:
- First Class (Royal First) and Business Class (Royal Silk) seats, from US$80 to US$170 (approximately 6,200 THB);
- Economy Class seats, from US$55 to US$140 (approximately 5,100 THB).
Ticket prices reflect the increased costs.
Chai Eiamsiri, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Thai Airways International Public Company Limited, stated that the adjustment of the Fuel Surcharge is a normal principle of fuel cost management for the airline business. This time, Thai Airways adjusted the rate based on actual increased costs and was not taking advantage of the situation. The price of Jet A1 fuel has previously more than doubled from its normal level, soaring from $80-90 to over $200. However, passengers who have already booked in advance cannot have their fares adjusted. Nevertheless, the principle for considering price increases is to ensure they are at a reasonable level that passengers can accept, and not excessively high. Because this is a free market, if Thai Airways’ ticket prices are too expensive, consumers won’t buy them.
Read more at: https://www.prachachat.net/tourism/news-1999073