KUALA LUMPUR | Air travelers across the Asia-Pacific region may have to contend with persistently higher ticket prices as soaring jet fuel costs, supply disruptions and rising airline operating expenses put pressure on carriers, the head of the region’s airline industry association has warned.
Wong Hong, director general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), said airlines are facing difficult decisions over whether to absorb rising fuel expenses, increase fares or reduce flight capacity, raising concerns that affordable air travel could become harder to maintain.
According to The Associated Press, jet fuel prices have climbed from about US80tonearlyUS180 per barrel over the past year, with fuel accounting for roughly one-third of airline operating costs. Airlines across Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America have introduced fare increases, fuel surcharges and additional fees since the Iran conflict began in late February 2026.
Wong said airlines are caught between rising expenses and the risk of pricing passengers out of the market. Many travelers book flights months before departure, meaning airlines often sell tickets before purchasing the fuel needed to operate those flights. This timing mismatch makes it difficult for carriers to recover sudden increases in fuel expenses.
The pressure is compounded by aircraft delivery delays and the high cost of maintaining older planes. Despite these challenges, Wong said travel demand remained resilient, although regional passenger traffic declined for five consecutive months from April through August before recovering slightly in September. Overall passenger traffic for the first nine months of 2026 was still 1.9% higher than the same period last year, according to AAPA figures.
Jet fuel prices were reported at approximately US148perbarrelonNovember13,downfromnearlyUS180 at the end of October but still substantially higher than the roughly US$85 recorded before the Iran conflict began in late February. Fuel now represents approximately 33% of airline operating expenses, compared with 25% last year, according to industry figures.
Airlines are also facing difficulties with fuel hedging, a financial strategy used to protect against sudden price increases by securing fuel prices in advance. Several carriers are seeing older hedging contracts expire and must decide whether to secure new contracts at much higher prices.
Japan Airlines is planning to introduce a domestic fuel surcharge in April 2027, while All Nippon Airways is considering a similar measure. ANA also expects an additional 100 billion yen in fuel expenses during its current financial year. Singapore Airlines, meanwhile, reported a 56% increase in its fuel bill during the six months to September, contributing to a 29% decline in operating profit despite record revenue.
The fuel crisis is linked to disruptions in global energy supplies following the escalation of the Middle East conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in February 2026. The International Air Transport Association said the disruption severely affected crude oil and refined fuel supplies, with jet fuel prices rising particularly sharply because of limited refinery capacity and supply constraints.
Founded in 1945, the International Air Transport Association represents airlines worldwide and monitors developments affecting the global aviation industry. Fuel has historically been among airlines’ largest operating expenses, making carriers particularly vulnerable to geopolitical conflicts and fluctuations in global oil markets.
For passengers, the consequences could extend beyond higher ticket prices to fewer available flights if airlines decide to reduce capacity or suspend less profitable routes. While carriers continue to balance operating costs against passenger demand, industry leaders warn that the era of consistently affordable air travel may be difficult to restore if elevated fuel prices persist.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
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