Cathay Pacific announced on 26 March that it will raise fuel surcharges on tickets issued from 1 April, marking its second revision within two weeks as jet fuel prices climb and pushing up overall ticket costs for passengers.
For Hong Kong-issued tickets, the increases are about 34% across three main tiers, depending on route category:
- Long-haul: HK$1,164 to HK$1,560
- South Asia routes: HK$541 to HK$725 (about +34%)
- Other routes: HK$290 to HK$389 (about +34%)
The airline said volatile conditions in the Middle East are pushing up jet fuel costs, which it noted are driven by both crude oil and refining components. Cathay cited IATA price data showing the global average jet fuel price rose to US$197 per barrel for the week ending 20 March, up from US$157.41 for the week ending 6 March and US$95.95 for the week ending 20 February. It said fuel made up about 30% of its total operating costs in 2025, and described the surcharge as a way to recover part of higher fuel expenses.
Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific says it will pause its Hong Kong passenger services to Dubai and Riyadh until 31 May 2026, citing ongoing regional tensions. The airline advises travellers with existing bookings to check their options for refunds or rebooking, and to watch for further schedule updates.
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