Thai Airways Nearly Doubles Fuel Surcharges From May 1 as Jet Fuel Costs Surge

London and Milan Surcharges Rise by 9,080 Baht

Thai Airways International will sharply increase fuel surcharges on international tickets issued from May 1, 2026, with economy passengers on Bangkok routes to London and Milan facing an additional 9,080 baht in fuel charges. The Bangkok based national carrier announced the changes on Tuesday, April 28, as the war in the Middle East continued to drive up the cost of jet fuel.

The airline described increases of up to 100% across numerous international routes. For London and Milan, the economy surcharge will rise from 9,990 baht to 19,070 baht, while the business class charge will climb from 18,680 baht to 35,750 baht. Those examples represent increases of about 91%, close to doubling the existing charges.

Thai Airways says jet fuel rose from roughly $80 per barrel before the conflict to a peak of $240, with recent trading around $180. The recent price is still more than twice the earlier level, while the peak was three times that starting point. The conflict began about two months before the announcement.

A fuel surcharge is a charge included in the ticket price to help cover fuel expenses. Its amount varies by route and cabin class. The May 1 change concerns when a ticket is issued, making that date important for passengers comparing bookings for journeys in the coming months.

The surcharge increase is one part of a wider squeeze on aviation. Airlines across Asia, Europe and the United States are raising charges, changing schedules or reducing spending as fuel takes a larger share of their operating budgets. Thai Airways, however, says it has not cancelled flights because of the crisis and is continuing with plans to expand its fleet and network.

How Much More Will Passengers Pay?

Thai Airways is increasing charges across short regional journeys, flights to larger Asian markets and longer routes to Europe and Australia. The amount added to a ticket differs substantially between destinations, even though many of the percentage increases are close to the same size.

The announced changes include the following economy and business class fuel surcharges:

• London and Milan: economy rises from 9,990 baht to 19,070 baht; business class rises from 18,680 baht to 35,750 baht.
• Beijing and Delhi: economy rises from 4,580 baht to 8,760 baht; business class rises from 6,440 baht to 12,130 baht.
• Yangon: economy rises from 1,780 baht to 3,390 baht; business class rises from 2,580 baht to 4,930 baht.
• Seoul and Narita: economy rises from 5,540 baht to 10,630 baht; business class rises from 8,120 baht to 15,530 baht.
• Sydney: economy rises from 7,410 baht to 14,170 baht; business class rises from 10,950 baht to 20,930 baht.

A passenger booking economy to Yangon faces an increase of 1,610 baht in the surcharge, compared with 6,760 baht for Sydney and 9,080 baht for London or Milan. Business class passengers on the two European routes face an increase of 17,070 baht.

The figures show why passengers need to compare the full ticket price for their particular route and cabin. A near doubling of the fuel surcharge changes one component of the fare, while the amount a traveler ultimately pays also includes the rest of the ticket price.

Why Fuel Is Taking a Larger Share of Airline Budgets

Jet fuel has historically accounted for approximately 25% of airline operating costs. Industry estimates cited in the April 28 account put that share at nearly 45% in recent weeks. In simple terms, fuel has moved from taking roughly one quarter of an airline's operating budget to taking nearly half.

The change is a rise of about 20 percentage points in fuel's share of costs. Airlines must cover that larger expense while continuing to pay for their other operations, creating pressure to collect more revenue from passengers or reduce spending elsewhere.

The fuel shock follows the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States. The U.S. and Israeli war on Iran has disrupted energy supply chains through the Strait of Hormuz, a passage central to the movement of oil from the Middle East.

Iran has effectively restricted traffic through the strait, which normally carries nearly 20% of global oil production. More than 80% of the oil and gas moving through the passage is destined for Asian markets. That concentration leaves Asian airlines, including Thai Airways, particularly exposed to interruptions in supply.

Thai Airways also faces an operational cost from avoiding the conflict area. Its aircraft are taking routes around Iranian airspace, adding slightly to fuel consumption at a time when each barrel costs much more.

European and Singapore Prices Show the Pressure

European jet fuel prices reached an all time high of $1,838 per tonne in early April, compared with $831 before the war began. The increase of $1,007 per tonne means the European price more than doubled over that period.

Singapore, another important market for aviation fuel, also recorded a sharp increase. The benchmark Platts index assessed jet fuel at $228.76 per barrel in early April, with prices remaining above $200 for consecutive trading sessions. Those levels were nearly double the prices seen in January 2026.

Jet fuel prices have risen more sharply than crude oil prices. Crude oil must be processed at a refinery before it becomes fuel an aircraft can use. Refining costs, together with kerosene receiving lower priority than petrol or diesel, help explain the greater increase in aviation fuel prices.

Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency, warned about the pressure on European supplies. He described the situation in these words:

Europe has maybe six weeks of jet fuel left. In the past there was a group called Dire Straits. It is a dire strait now.

Birol's warning adds a supply concern to the price problem. Airlines face the expense of buying fuel at much higher prices while energy markets struggle with disrupted movement through a major shipping passage.

Asian and Pacific Airlines Change Prices and Schedules

Cathay Pacific raised fuel surcharges by 34% across all routes from April 1. Its longer flights now carry charges of 1,560 Hong Kong dollars. The airline reviews the surcharges every two weeks so that it can respond to rapidly changing fuel prices.

Air New Zealand has cancelled 1,100 flights affecting more than 44,000 passengers between March and May. Its response shows another consequence of the fuel shock: some travelers face fewer available flights as well as higher prices.

Qantas has delayed planned share buybacks and increased its estimated fuel bill for the second half of 2026 to between A$3.1 billion and A$3.3 billion. A share buyback uses company money to purchase its own shares. Delaying that spending is one of the steps the airline has taken as its expected fuel costs rise.

Air India has moved from flat domestic fuel surcharges to pricing based on distance. From March 18, its fees for routes to North America and Australia increased to $200. Distance based charging makes the length of a journey part of the calculation for the surcharge.

Thai Airways is using higher surcharges while keeping flights operating. The different responses across the region show how the same fuel shock is reaching passengers through ticket prices, flight availability and changes in airline spending.

Governments Adjust Surcharge Rules

Indonesia raised its maximum fuel surcharge cap to 38%, from previous limits of 10% for jets and 25% for turboprops. Jets and turboprops are different types of aircraft, and the earlier rules allowed different surcharge ceilings for each.

Indonesia also introduced temporary fiscal measures, including the removal of 11% value added tax on airline tickets. The policy response combines more room for airlines to charge for fuel with tax relief on tickets.

The Philippines moved its applicable fuel surcharge to Level 8, allowing airlines to impose fees ranging from 253 Philippine pesos to 6,208.98 pesos, depending on distance. The level sets the permitted charges under the country's surcharge framework.

Vietnam reports that more than 60% of airlines have implemented or planned fare increases ranging from 5% to 20%. Those changes concern fares, while the Thai Airways announcement specifies increases in the fuel surcharge included in a ticket.

Thailand's fuel surcharge mechanism requires coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, which regulates the ceiling for such charges. Thai Airways therefore operates within a regulatory framework as it adjusts the amount collected to cover fuel costs.

U.S. Carriers Turn to Fares, Baggage Fees and Capacity Cuts

United Airlines chief executive Scott Kirby warned that ticket prices may need to rise by 15% to 20% to offset fuel costs. His warning puts a potential increase in the full ticket price alongside the surcharge changes being made by carriers in Asia.

American Airlines has increased checked baggage fees by $10 for the first and second bags. Passengers checking luggage face that added expense as airlines seek more revenue during the fuel crisis.

Delta Air Lines plans to cut capacity by 3.5 percentage points and has withdrawn all planned capacity growth for the current quarter. Capacity describes the amount of flying an airline offers, including the seats available across its schedule.

The U.S. measures extend the effects of the fuel shock beyond a single charge on an international ticket. Higher fares, increased baggage fees and less planned flying are different ways airlines are responding to rising operating costs.

Thai Airways Says Demand Remains Strong

Thai Airways chief executive Chai Eamsiri said the surcharge changes reflect higher expenses. He explained the airline's position in these words:

We are not taking advantage of the situation, this is simply an adjustment in line with higher costs.

Chief financial officer Cherdchom Therdthirasak advised passengers to secure tickets promptly before fares rise further. She said availability had become extremely limited across European and other destinations for the next two weeks.

The carrier had reported robust advance bookings for March 2026, with cabin factors of 80% to 90% on direct Europe to Thailand routes. A cabin factor is the share of available seats occupied by passengers, so those figures describe flights with most seats filled.

Thai Airways has observed more travelers choosing direct flights to avoid connections through Middle East hubs facing operational disruption. That shift supports demand for direct services even while the airline is raising fuel charges.

The carrier says it has not cancelled flights because of the crisis. It continues to operate while routing around Iranian airspace, accepting slightly greater fuel consumption to avoid the conflict zones.

Fleet Growth Continues During the Fuel Shock

Thai Airways plans to increase its fleet from 80 aircraft to 102 by 2026, a net expansion of 22 aircraft. The planned fleet comprises 67 wide body aircraft and 35 narrow body aircraft. Wide body aircraft have two passenger aisles, while narrow body aircraft have one.

The airline's delivery plans for this year include 14 Boeing 787-9 wide body jets and 14 Airbus A321neo narrow body aircraft. Its network plans also extend beyond its existing European and Asian services.

Amsterdam and Auckland are scheduled as new destinations in the third quarter of 2026. Additional Chinese destinations, including Changsha, Xiamen and Chongqing, are planned during the second and third quarters. Busan in South Korea and Da Nang in Vietnam are also among the planned additions.

Rath Rauksamruad, director of corporate finance at Thai Airways, said the company targets a 2:1 ratio of wide body to narrow body aircraft. The planned mix of 67 and 35 aircraft is close to that ratio.

The fleet balance supports a hub strategy in which international passengers arrive in Thailand and connect to regional flights. Larger aircraft serve the international part of that network, while smaller aircraft help carry passengers onward.

Thai Airways says maintaining liquidity is a priority during the abnormal operating period. Liquidity means having money available to meet expenses as they come due. The airline says it currently has no plans to seek new loans.

Dates and Choices for Travelers

May 1 is the immediate deadline for the new Thai Airways surcharge schedule: the increased charges apply to tickets issued from that date. Passengers should look at the ticket issuance date alongside their intended travel date when reviewing a booking.

The changes and plans described by April 28 span several months:

• January 2026: Singapore jet fuel prices were around half the levels recorded in early April.
• March 2026: Thai Airways reported strong advance bookings, while Air New Zealand's cancellation period began.
• March 18: Air India increased fees for North America and Australia routes to $200.
• April 1: Cathay Pacific's 34% surcharge increase took effect, and the Thai Airways ticket issuance window for a special Japan to Bangkok surcharge began.
• Early April: European jet fuel reached $1,838 per tonne, and the Platts Singapore assessment reached $228.76 per barrel.
• April 28: Thai Airways announced the increases taking effect on May 1.
• May 31: The stated ticket issuance window for the special surcharge on flights from Japan to Bangkok ends.
• Second and third quarters of 2026: Thai Airways plans additional Chinese destinations, with Amsterdam and Auckland planned for the third quarter.

Transport professors and aviation analysts have advised travelers hoping to fly in the coming months to book promptly to avoid widespread price increases of up to 30%. For travel in September or later, waiting could offer a benefit if diplomatic efforts ease the conflict, although the timing of any resolution is uncertain.

Thai Airways has a special fuel surcharge for flights departing Japan for Bangkok, charged when tickets are issued between April 1 and May 31, according to regulatory filings. That window is another date passengers on those services need to consider.

Passengers using loyalty programs should also check the charges attached to award tickets. Such tickets may carry increased fuel surcharges, even when points or miles cover the fare. Some carriers offer discounts for advance bookings.

Regional destinations within Southeast Asia and the Pacific offer another option. Shorter flights use less jet fuel and face less severe price pressure, while greater frequency and competition may support more stable pricing than on longer international services.

All carriers face the underlying fuel market pressures, however. Large price reductions are unlikely while the Middle East conflict continues. For travelers, the immediate choice is between securing a near term booking before further increases and accepting uncertainty when waiting for travel later in the year.

Key Points

• Thai Airways will raise international fuel surcharges by up to 100% on tickets issued from May 1, 2026.
• Economy surcharges for London and Milan rise from 9,990 baht to 19,070 baht; business class charges rise from 18,680 baht to 35,750 baht.
• Jet fuel rose from roughly $80 per barrel to a peak of $240, with recent trading around $180.
• Fuel's estimated share of airline operating costs has climbed from about 25% to nearly 45%.
• Disruption through the Strait of Hormuz particularly affects Asia, the destination for more than 80% of the oil and gas moving through the passage.
• Airlines are responding with higher fares and surcharges, baggage fee increases, flight cancellations and spending changes.
• Thai Airways says it has not cancelled flights because of the crisis and currently has no plans to seek new loans.
• The airline plans a fleet of 102 aircraft and new services to Amsterdam, Auckland and additional Asian destinations in 2026.