Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) announced on September 1 that international passenger fuel surcharges for domestic airlines will be increased starting September 7, driven by recent increases in international aviation fuel prices.
According to the CAA, short-haul fuel surcharges will increase from $30 USD (approximately NT$949) to $32.50 USD (approximately NT$1,028) per passenger. Long-haul fuel surcharges will rise from $78 USD (approximately NT$2,467) to $84.50 USD (approximately NT$2,670) per passenger. Short-haul routes cover Asia excluding India and the Middle East, while long-haul routes encompass Europe, the Americas, Africa, Oceania, Antarctica, India, and the Middle East.
The surcharge rate adjustment is based on the latest international aviation fuel prices announced by CPC Corporation. The listed price for international jet fuel increased from $147.57 USD (approximately NT$4,668) per barrel to $156.79 USD (approximately NT$4,960) per barrel, triggering the automatic bracket step-up under the mechanism.
The CAA established the passenger fuel surcharge adjustment mechanism in 2005 through coordination with domestic airlines, using CPC Corporation's announced international aviation fuel list price as the baseline standard. Under the agreement, no surcharge is collected when fuel prices remain below $40 USD (approximately NT$1,265) per barrel. The second tier begins between $40 USD and under $50 USD (approximately NT$1,581) per barrel, with charges set at $5 USD (approximately NT$158) for short-haul and $13 USD (approximately NT$411) for long-haul flights. For each subsequent $10 USD (approximately NT$316) increase in fuel price, short-haul and long-haul surcharges increase by $2.50 USD (approximately NT$79) and $6.50 USD (approximately NT$206), respectively.
The CAA added that it has instructed airlines to appropriately disclose background information, such as the proportion of fuel costs relative to total operating costs or calculation formulas, to resolve consumer inquiries. Passengers can also contact individual airlines or check official websites for details regarding the upcoming adjustment.
