On 1 april, xiamen aviation, china united aviation ltd. Issued a circular to increase fuel surcharges on domestic routes. At present, fuel surcharges for domestic shipping lines in china are uniform, which means that a general increase will be achieved。
As indicated in the xiamen air circular, fuel surcharges for the transport of passengers on domestic routes have been adjusted from 0:00 hours on 5 april 2026 (ticking time). Of these, the line below 800 kilometres (inclusive) was increased from $10 to $60 and the route above 800 kilometres from $20 to $120。
The notification from the united air company ltd. Of china indicates that the rate of surcharges on fuel for the transportation of passengers on domestic routes is: 60 yuan per passenger for 800 kilometres (including) and 120 yuan per passenger for more than 800 kilometres。
The fuel surcharge for domestic shipping lines was last adjusted to charge each adult passenger a fuel charge of $10 for the 800 km or less segment on 5 january of this year and $20 for each adult passenger for the 800 km or more, with a reduction of $10 and $20 respectively。
According to information received from journalists, since 5 february 2022, airlines have resumed collecting fuel surcharges for domestic flights, in the range of $10 and $20. Since then, the increase has been sustained, with a further increase in the rate charged on 5 july 2022, resulting in an increase in the fuel surcharge to $100/200, which is the highest rate we have received since the introduction of the fuel surcharge in 2000。
Shipping oil is one of the major operating costs of the ag, usually over 30 per cent. Large fluctuations in international oil price levels will have a significant impact on the level of aviation oil prices and revenue from fuel surcharges of the division, which in turn will affect corporate performance. In the case of china national airlines, for example, the 2025 biannual report shows that if average oil prices rise or fall by 5 per cent, with other variables remaining unchanged, the cost of chinese national aviation companies will rise or fall by approximately 1,216 million yuan。
Prior to that, in mid-march, international oil prices and the cost of shipping oil had risen significantly as a result of geo-conflicts in the middle east, with a number of domestic airlines increasing fuel surcharges on international routes。
“in a changing international context, companies will contribute to strategic development certainty with stability and address external uncertainties.” in its recent presentation on the annual performance statement for 2025, held in the form of a web-based interaction, china national airlines stated that fuel costs had risen in the short term; in the long run, it believed that the rise in oil prices had helped to reduce the industry's internal volume and to improve the overall competitive pattern of the industry. Companies are now free of internal and external regulatory restrictions on hedging operations, whether and when they are conducted, depending on market conditions。
According to xinhua, international oil prices rose and fell differently on 31 march. As at the closing date, the prices of light-quality crude oil futures delivered by the new york commodity exchange in may had fallen by $1. 50 to $101. 38 per barrel, or 1. 46 per cent; the price of london brent crude oil futures delivered in may had increased by $5. 57 to $118. 35 per barrel, or 4. 94 per cent。
