BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand’s aviation regulator warned that soaring jet fuel costs linked to the Middle East war had already driven some Europe airfares to more than double their previous levels.
Jet fuel prices surge
Developments on the crude oil market were described as dramatic, with the price of aviation fuel jumping within days from 70–80 dollars per barrel to nearly three times that level.
“In the first one to two days of the crisis, we saw an unprecedented increase,”
said Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, head of the CAAT.
For airlines, fuel was one of the largest cost components and the sudden shock posed a serious challenge. Carriers could not absorb such increases indefinitely and would eventually pass them on to passengers.
Europe routes already cost twice as much
Ticket prices on many routes to Europe had already risen sharply, with travellers on several connections paying more than double. A mix of factors contributed: because of the crisis, many passengers avoided major hubs in the Middle East, pushing up demand for direct services from Asia while seats remained limited.
“Ticket prices for available international connections have increased by more than 100 percent,”
warned the CAAT. The situation turned planned holidays into high-cost trips and added uncertainty to business travel.
Major Asian carriers under pressure
The price shock hit large airlines on Asia–Europe routes particularly hard. Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Thai Airways were among the carriers feeling the strain from higher fuel bills and shifting passenger flows.
Travellers tried at all costs to avoid being stranded in conflict regions, leading to a rush on the few alternative connections. Airlines operated at the limit of their capacity, and fares were expected to rise further if the war did not end soon.
Impact on domestic travel in Thailand
Higher costs were also expected to affect passengers on domestic routes in Thailand.
“Fuel costs will also affect domestic flights,”
said Manat.
However, there was some hope that competition from buses, trains and ferries on many routes would help to slow price increases.
“The market will regulate the prices,”
believed the CAAT chief, pointing to other transport options as a moderating factor.
Government steps to curb speculation
Authorities said they were working to prevent the worst effects of the fuel shock. They appealed to fuel suppliers not to engage in excessive speculation and to avoid exploiting existing stocks.
“The available inventories must not be used as a pretext for excessive prices,”
demanded Manat, adding that price adjustments should follow actual market movements. The government also relaxed some rules so airlines could more easily bring stranded passengers home.
“This is a humanitarian matter,”
emphasized the CAAT head, framing the facilitation measures as support for affected travellers.
What travellers should expect now
Experts advised passengers who needed to fly soon to prepare for higher fares, especially on short-notice bookings. Last-minute tickets risked becoming particularly expensive as long as fuel prices and route constraints persisted.
Planning further ahead could pay off if the war ended and prices fell quickly, although there was no clarity on when that might happen. For many people in Thailand and across Asia, trips to Europe were already turning into a costly luxury, and the outlook could worsen if the conflict continued.