Several Chinese airlines, including national carrier Air China, said they would raise their fuel charges on domestic flights from Sunday as war in the Middle East raises oil prices globally.
Air China, China Southern and its subsidiary Xiamen Airlines said in statements that they would raise surcharges for flights up to 800 kilometers (500 miles) by 60 yuan (US$8.70) and 120 yuan for longer flights. Spring Airlines and Juneyao Airlines also announced increases in fuel surcharges.
International flights will be subject to system calculations, according to statements issued Wednesday that did not mention the conflict.
The move comes as war in the Middle East and Iran’s effective closure of the crucial Strait of Hormuz have pushed up crude oil prices.
A barrel of Brent crude, the benchmark for energy markets, has risen to around US$100 since the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, prompting Iran to retaliate against oil installations in several Gulf states.
Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific increased the fuel surcharge on all flights last month by 34 percent as a result of the conflict.
Several other airlines, including Air France-KLM, Air India, Qantas and SAS, have increased their fares to reflect rising jet fuel prices.
Many airlines have also suspended service to destinations in the Middle East due to security concerns.
Analysts have said that while carriers all hedge some of their fuel costs, their margins could still be affected.
Chinese carriers carried about 770 million passengers in 2025, an increase of 5.5 percent from a year earlier, according to official reports, while international passenger traffic grew by 21.6 percent.
Passenger traffic was expected to rise to 810 million, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
