With fuel surcharges surging more than fivefold within two months following the Hormuz crisis, the weight of fuel loaded on the ground is being fully passed on to passengers' wallets.
Anyone planning an overseas trip has likely paused at the unexpected amount on the screen just before paying for their airline ticket.
The fuel surcharge, displayed separately from the base fare, is the main culprit.
Entering 2026, as these fuel surcharges took a direct hit from the Middle East crisis, they have skyrocketed since late February to unprecedented levels since the introduction of the current system in just two months.