Caribbean Airlines (CAL) has introduced a new fuel surcharge on all regional and international tickets, effective for purchases made on or after April 10, 2026.
The surcharge ranges from US$15 to US$25 per sector depending on the route, and will appear in the taxes and fees portion of ticket prices. Base fares remain unchanged. Passengers who purchased tickets before April 10 are not affected, and domestic flights operating solely between Trinidad and Tobago are fully exempt.
CAL stated the charge is designed to offset only a portion of its rising operational costs, with the airline continuing to absorb a significant share to cushion the financial impact on passengers. No decision has been made regarding baggage fee increases, though the airline said it continues to review its cost structure.
The move comes as global jet fuel prices have surged sharply amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran geopolitical conflict. According to the International Air Transport Association, average jet fuel prices reached US$195.19 per barrel by the end of March 2026 — a jump of 96.4 per cent from US$99.40 just a month earlier. Fuel now accounts for approximately 50 per cent of airline operating costs, nearly double the typical 27 per cent.
CAL is not alone in responding to the pressure. Major international carriers including Air India, Air France-KLM, British Airways, Emirates, and WestJet have introduced similar surcharges, while at least five US carriers — including American Airlines and Alaska Airlines — have raised baggage fees by US$10.
Republished from Caribbean 360
