Cathay Pacific hikes fuel surcharges for the second time in two weeks

Cathay Pacific recently announced a sharp 105% increase in fuel surcharges, as airlines grapple with a spike in jet fuel prices driven by the Middle East conflict. 

Unfortunately, it looks like that was only the tip of the iceberg. Jet fuel prices now stand at US$197 per barrel, more than double the US$95.95 recorded on 20 February 2026, before the conflict began. In response, the Hong Kong-based airline has now announced a further 34% increase in fuel surcharges, applicable to bookings made from 1 April 2026. 

Cathay will also be reviewing fuel surcharges every two weeks, instead of monthly. 

To enable a more agile response to the volatile jet fuel prices, we will review and revise the fuel surcharge every two weeks to better capture jet fuel price movements in either upward or downward direction.

This increased frequency of review is intended as a temporary measure and will be revisited when the Middle East situation stabilises.

-Cathay Pacific

For context, Cathay Pacific reintroduced fuel surcharges in February 2021, after initially removing them in May 2020 when travel flatlined amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since airlines are required to quote all-inclusive fares, commercial tickets may not increase by the full extent of the fuel surcharge. Airlines may offset part of the increase by slightly reducing the base fare, to keep overall prices competitive. But if you’re redeeming a Cathay Pacific award ticket through Asia Miles (or any partner programme that doesn’t absorb fuel surcharges), you can expect to bear the full brunt of the increase, because this has to be paid entirely in cash.

Strap in, because this could get worse before it gets better…

Cathay Pacific hikes fuel surcharges again

Cathay Pacific will further increase fuel surcharges by 34% for all air tickets booked from 1 April 2026 onwards. 

Cathay Pacific fuel surcharges are the same across all cabin classes, and are applied by sector. For example:

• a round-trip ticket between Singapore and Hong Kong currently has US$74.40 of fuel surcharges, which will increase to US$100 for bookings made from 1 April 2026
• a round-trip ticket between Singapore and San Francisco via Hong Kong currently has US$372.80 of fuel surcharges (2x [US$37.20 + US$149.20]), which will increase to US$500 (2x [US$50+ US$200]) for bookings made from 1 April 2026

The increase is even more stark when you consider where prices stood prior to 18 March 2026. We’re talking a 174% hike in the space of less than a month. Goodness me. 

Here’s a quick summary of how much more you can expect to pay for fuel surcharges for round-trip Cathay Pacific flights originating from Singapore.

As a reminder, fuel surcharges are in addition to the usual airport taxes and fees, which currently amount to S$65.20 for a flight departing from Changi Airport, and will increase to S$79.20 by 2030. 

At least the sustainable aviation fuel levy has been delayed…

Should you lock in tickets now?

During the previous round of fuel surcharge increases, I strongly advised everyone to try and lock in whatever award tickets they could before the new surcharges came into effect. 

Asia Miles members can book Cathay Pacific award seats up to 360 days prior to departure, which meant that customers could enjoy the pre-war fuel surcharge structure for travel as late as 12 March 2027.

This time however, my advice is to hold your fire.

Unless you’re travelling in the near future, there is little point “locking in” fuel surcharges at the current rates. Sure, it could insulate you from any further increases. However, you won’t get a refund if fuel surcharges subsequently decrease (short of cancelling and rebooking your ticket- always a risky proposition with awards).

Cathay Pacific will be reviewing fuel surcharges fortnightly, so if your travel plans are still some distance in the future, and believe this insanity in the Middle East will pass before long, then it’s probably worth taking a wait-and-see approach.

Asia Miles devaluation coming

Asia Miles members are staring down a double whammy, because in addition to higher fuel surcharges, the programme will also increase the cost of certain awards from 1 May 2026. 

The changes are fairly modest in absolute terms. There is a 2,000-4,000 mile increase in the cost of long and ultra long-haul Business Class awards, though there is also a 1,000-2,000 mile reduction in the cost of short-haul Business and Premium Economy awards.

However, this marks the third Asia Miles devaluation in less than three years. Taken cumulatively, there has actually been a substantial increase in the cost of long-haul and ultra long-haul Business Class awards. 

This has the potential to further complicate matters: should you book now to save on miles, but lock in the relatively high fuel surcharges? Or should you wait until fuel surcharges come down (hopefully!), but have to pay the higher award costs?

I’d personally wait and see. There’s still slightly over a month to go until 1 May 2026, and while I’m not expecting miracles to happen in that period, we could see a slight moderation. And even if we don’t, 2,000-4,000 miles is a small increase in absolute terms. I don’t think that kind of saving is worth locking in the fuel surcharges we’re seeing now.

More on the upcoming Asia Miles devaluation can be found below. 

Cathay Pacific will devalue Asia Miles from May 2026

Conclusion

Cathay Pacific has announced another round of fuel surcharge increases, barely two weeks after more than doubling them in light of skyrocketing jet fuel prices. Passengers on long-haul itineraries originating from Singapore are looking at as much as US$500 added to a round-trip booking, 174% more than at the start of March. 

It’s particularly bad news for award travellers, as it adds a substantial cash copayment to their “free” ticket. What’s more, Asia Miles members will see increased redemption prices for selected awards from May 2026 which while modest, just rubs salt into the wound. 

Unless you plan to travel in the near future, I think now’s the time to hunker down and wait.