Major Chinese carriers raise fuel surcharges on domestic routes from Sunday as Middle East conflict drives up global oil prices. BEIJING: Several major Chinese airlines will increase fuel surcharges on domestic flights from Sunday.
The hikes are a direct response to soaring global oil prices driven by conflict in the Middle East.
National carrier Air China confirmed the increase alongside China Southern and its subsidiary Xiamen Airlines. They will raise surcharges by 60 yuan for flights under 800 kilometres and by 120 yuan for longer journeys.
Budget carriers Spring Airlines and Juneyao Airlines have also announced identical surcharge increases. The airlines’ statements did not mention the ongoing Middle East conflict as the cause.
The move follows Iran’s effective closure of the crucial Strait of Hormuz amid regional warfare. This has sent the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil to around USD 100.
Prices have risen sharply since the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. Iran retaliated by targeting oil installations in several Gulf states.
Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific increased its fuel surcharge on all flights by 34% last month. Several other international carriers have also raised fares to reflect higher jet fuel costs.
Airlines including Air France-KLM, Air India, Qantas, and SAS have implemented increases. Many have also suspended services to Middle Eastern destinations over security concerns.
Analysts note that while carriers hedge some fuel costs, their profit margins could still be affected. The surcharge increases aim to offset these rising operational expenses.
Chinese airlines carried approximately 770 million passengers in 2025. This represented a 5.5% increase from the previous year.
International passenger traffic saw a more dramatic jump of 21.6% last year. Official forecasts expect total passenger traffic to reach 810 million.
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https://thesun.my/news/world-news/asia/chinese-airlines-hike-domestic-fuel-surcharges-amid-oil-price-surge/
