Asia-Pacific carriers are scrambling to offset a rapid rise in jet-fuel prices triggered by the Gulf conflict. On 2 April AFP reported that major Chinese airlines will lift domestic fuel surcharges from 5 April, while Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific has already increased surcharges on all routes by 34 per cent—its second jump in a fortnight.
![Airlines hike surcharges as jet-fuel spike bites; Cathay, HK Airlines warn of higher fares]()
Amid these fast-moving developments, travellers should also keep an eye on visa requirements. VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) helps individuals and corporate travel teams secure visas and passports for more than 200 destinations, offering real-time status tracking and expert support that can prove invaluable when sudden fuel-price spikes force last-minute itinerary changes.
Hong Kong Airlines and Greater Bay Airlines have followed suit on regional sectors. The surcharges translate into an extra HK$240–380 on a typical Hong Kong–Tokyo return ticket and HK$600 or more for long-haul journeys to Europe and North America. Corporate travel managers say the hikes are complicating budget forecasts just as passenger demand returns to pre-pandemic levels; some firms have begun capping premium-class bookings or shifting connecting traffic to airlines with hedged fuel exposure. Cathay Pacific CEO Ronald Lam said fuel now accounts for 30 per cent of operating costs, up from 22 per cent last year. To preserve margins the airline will review surcharges every two weeks instead of monthly. Analysts warn that repeatedly passing on costs could dampen the fragile recovery in business travel unless oil prices stabilise. Travellers should also factor in longer routings around Middle-East airspace closures, which add up to 45 minutes on certain European sectors and push up carbon-offset fees. Mobility teams are advised to refresh travel-policy thresholds and ensure expense systems recognise the variable surcharges that appear as separate ticket line items. Looking ahead, the Hong Kong government has ruled out temporary fuel-tax relief for carriers but indicated that green-fuel R&D subsidies may be brought forward in the 2027 Budget to reduce long-term volatility.
Amid these fast-moving developments, travellers should also keep an eye on visa requirements. VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) helps individuals and corporate travel teams secure visas and passports for more than 200 destinations, offering real-time status tracking and expert support that can prove invaluable when sudden fuel-price spikes force last-minute itinerary changes.
Hong Kong Airlines and Greater Bay Airlines have followed suit on regional sectors. The surcharges translate into an extra HK$240–380 on a typical Hong Kong–Tokyo return ticket and HK$600 or more for long-haul journeys to Europe and North America. Corporate travel managers say the hikes are complicating budget forecasts just as passenger demand returns to pre-pandemic levels; some firms have begun capping premium-class bookings or shifting connecting traffic to airlines with hedged fuel exposure. Cathay Pacific CEO Ronald Lam said fuel now accounts for 30 per cent of operating costs, up from 22 per cent last year. To preserve margins the airline will review surcharges every two weeks instead of monthly. Analysts warn that repeatedly passing on costs could dampen the fragile recovery in business travel unless oil prices stabilise. Travellers should also factor in longer routings around Middle-East airspace closures, which add up to 45 minutes on certain European sectors and push up carbon-offset fees. Mobility teams are advised to refresh travel-policy thresholds and ensure expense systems recognise the variable surcharges that appear as separate ticket line items. Looking ahead, the Hong Kong government has ruled out temporary fuel-tax relief for carriers but indicated that green-fuel R&D subsidies may be brought forward in the 2027 Budget to reduce long-term volatility.
