Air Cargo Fuel Surcharges for China Airlines, EVA Air, and Starlux to Double in May
Due to soaring oil prices, Taiwan's China Airlines, EVA Air, and Starlux Airlines will double their cargo fuel surcharges for exports to the US, Europe, and Asia starting in May, triggering a rush of shipments in late April.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 21, 2026 at 16:44
- 🔍 Collected: April 21, 2026 at 17:01 (17 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 01:40 (8h 38m after Collected)
(Central News Agency reporter Chiang Ming-yen, Taipei, 21st) In response to soaring oil prices, China Airlines, EVA Air, and Starlux Airlines have successively issued notices that cargo fuel surcharges will be hiked again. Starting in May, the fuel surcharge for goods exported from Taiwan to regions such as Europe, the Americas, and Asia will be doubled.
International oil prices have surged, prompting another increase not only in passenger fuel surcharges but also in cargo fuel surcharges. On the 20th, China Airlines sent a price increase notice to its agents stating that, based on the fuel price calculated from the company's average fuel purchase cost and reported to the Civil Aeronautics Administration for reference, it will adjust the fuel surcharge for goods exported from Taiwan to Europe, the Americas, and Asia starting May 1.
According to the notice, China Airlines plans to hike the fuel surcharge for goods exported from Taiwan to Europe and the Americas from the current 41 NTD per kilogram to 81 NTD starting May 1, a near doubling. For the fuel surcharge exported from Taiwan to Asia, it will rise from the current 14 NTD per kilogram to 28 NTD, also a 100% increase.
Starlux Airlines sent a notice this morning indicating that, effective midnight on May 2, 2026, it will adjust the fuel surcharge for long-haul and short-haul exports from Taiwan; the pricing data and adjustment margin are identical to those announced by China Airlines.
EVA Air also stated earlier that to reflect market oil price fluctuations, it will adjust the air cargo fuel surcharge for Taiwan exports starting May 2. The rate for the Europe and Americas region will be adjusted to 81 NTD per kilogram, and the Asian region to 28 NTD per kilogram.
Air freight forwarders noted that due to high oil prices, airlines inevitably have to adjust fuel surcharges to cope with the extra costs. Given that there was already a wave of increases in April, the current air freight rate for direct flights from Taiwan to the United States is about 261 to 291 NTD per kilogram. After the subsequent hike in May, it is expected to break the 300 NTD mark.
Industry analysts point out that with the May Day long weekend approaching and another imminent hike in fuel surcharges, completing customs clearance and warehousing before the long weekend and the effective date of the price increase can avoid an additional transportation cost of about 40 NTD per kilogram. The market anticipates a rush to ship out goods in late April, and it is not ruled out that cargo space on US routes will be extremely hard to secure before the end of the month. (Editor: Chang Chun-mao)
International oil prices have surged, prompting another increase not only in passenger fuel surcharges but also in cargo fuel surcharges. On the 20th, China Airlines sent a price increase notice to its agents stating that, based on the fuel price calculated from the company's average fuel purchase cost and reported to the Civil Aeronautics Administration for reference, it will adjust the fuel surcharge for goods exported from Taiwan to Europe, the Americas, and Asia starting May 1.
According to the notice, China Airlines plans to hike the fuel surcharge for goods exported from Taiwan to Europe and the Americas from the current 41 NTD per kilogram to 81 NTD starting May 1, a near doubling. For the fuel surcharge exported from Taiwan to Asia, it will rise from the current 14 NTD per kilogram to 28 NTD, also a 100% increase.
Starlux Airlines sent a notice this morning indicating that, effective midnight on May 2, 2026, it will adjust the fuel surcharge for long-haul and short-haul exports from Taiwan; the pricing data and adjustment margin are identical to those announced by China Airlines.
EVA Air also stated earlier that to reflect market oil price fluctuations, it will adjust the air cargo fuel surcharge for Taiwan exports starting May 2. The rate for the Europe and Americas region will be adjusted to 81 NTD per kilogram, and the Asian region to 28 NTD per kilogram.
Air freight forwarders noted that due to high oil prices, airlines inevitably have to adjust fuel surcharges to cope with the extra costs. Given that there was already a wave of increases in April, the current air freight rate for direct flights from Taiwan to the United States is about 261 to 291 NTD per kilogram. After the subsequent hike in May, it is expected to break the 300 NTD mark.
Industry analysts point out that with the May Day long weekend approaching and another imminent hike in fuel surcharges, completing customs clearance and warehousing before the long weekend and the effective date of the price increase can avoid an additional transportation cost of about 40 NTD per kilogram. The market anticipates a rush to ship out goods in late April, and it is not ruled out that cargo space on US routes will be extremely hard to secure before the end of the month. (Editor: Chang Chun-mao)