Cathay Pacific Hikes Fuel Surcharges From 1 Aug 2026

Cathay Pacific has announced that it is raising its fuel surcharges, the first increase since April. This is in response to jet fuel prices rising again amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Related: Cathay Pacific Cuts Fuel Surcharges From 16 Jul 2026

Cathay Pacific Fuel Surcharge Update
Image: Cathay Pacific

Higher fuel surcharges from 1 Aug 2026

From 1 Aug 2026, Cathay Pacific is raising its fuel surcharge by about 41% across short, medium and long-haul flights.

The surcharge is per flight sector and is the same across all cabin classes. It is locked in at the booking date, not the travel date. So, complete your award bookings before 1 Aug 2026 to lock in the current rates.

Cathay cut these surcharges three times between May and July. The new rates undo those cuts and return to the level that applied from 16 May 2026.

Route BandUntil 31 JulFrom 1 Aug
Short-haulUS$30.90US$43.50
Medium-haulUS$57.43US$81.20
Long-haulUS$123.70US$174.60
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History of Cathay Pacific fuel surcharges

Rates peaked on 1 Apr 2026 and fell at every review through 16 Jul 2026. The 1 Aug increase is the first rise since that April peak.

On long-haul sectors, the new surcharge is about 13% below the 1 Apr peak, but still around 140% above the pre-conflict level.

The surcharge is charged per flight sector and is the same in either direction. It sits on top of airport taxes and applies to Asia Miles award tickets, so it matters when booking award flights.

Cathay reviews the fuel surcharge every two weeks, so the rates can move again up or down at the next review.

Here’s a chart of Cathay’s fuel surcharge updates since Mar 2026 to help you visualize:

Cathay Pacific Fuel History Chart (Aug 2026)
Cathay Pacific Fuel History Chart (as of Aug 2026)
EffectiveShort
Haul
Medium
Haul
Long
Haul
1 Aug
(NEW)
US$43.50US$81.20US$174.60
16 JulUS$30.90US$57.43US$123.70
1 JulUS$37.20US$69.40US$149.20
16 MayUS$43.50US$81.20US$174.60
1 AprUS$50US$93US$200
18 MarUS$37.20US$69.40US$149.20
Till 17 MarUS$18.20US$33.80US$72.90

Psst...check out the latest credit card sign-up promos for August 2026:

Fuel surcharge from Singapore

The surcharge is charged per sector, so a Singapore itinerary via Hong Kong pays for the SIN-HKG sector plus the onward sector.

From 1 Aug 2026, the one-way totals are:

Destination
(from SIN)
Fuel Surcharge
Hong KongUS$43.50
Japan,
South Korea
US$87
Milan,
Frankfurt,
Amsterdam,
North America
US$218.10

Miles required for Asia Miles from Singapore

Asia Miles awards are distance-based, including the Hong Kong layover, not zonal. Here are one-way rates for Cathay Pacific-operated flights from Singapore via Hong Kong, based on our Asia Miles award chart guide.

DestinationEconomyPremium
Economy
BusinessFirst
Hong Kong9k18k27k43k
Japan,
South Korea
20k39k60k90k
Milan,
Frankfurt,
Amsterdam
27k52k91k125k
North
America
38k78k119k160k

Best credit cards to earn Asia Miles

The fastest way to earn Asia Miles in Singapore is with credit cards that earn 4 miles per dollar.

Here’s a detailed look at them:

4.5
Citi Rewards Card

Earn 4 mpd on online spending, selected in-person shopping and even in-person overseas spending with Amaze linkage

More information

Key details of the Citi Rewards Card

Card rating :
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income:• S’porean/PR: S$30,000
• Foreigner: S$42,000
Annual fee: S$196.20 (first year waived; request waiver every year)


 Earn 4 mpd on online spending, selected in-person shopping and in-person overseas spending (via Amaze ), up to S$1,000 per statement month
 No minimum spending
 5-year miles expiry cycle
 9 useful miles transfer partners


⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ Travel-related spending (e.g. flights, hotels) excluded from bonus earn rate
⚠️ In-person shopping bonus earn rate (without Amaze linkage) is MCC-sensitive
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee (save ~1% via Amaze)
⚠️ Amaze linkage for SGD spending comes with a 1% fee


4.5
HSBC Revolution Card

Earn 4 mpd on contactless and online spending; boost earn rate to 8 mpd with a minimum deposit of S$50,000

More information

Key details of the HSBC Revolution Card

Card rating :
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income:• S’porean/PR: S$30,000 – S$65,000
• Foreigner: S$65,000
Annual fee: No annual fee, ever


 Earn 4 mpd on selected contactless and online spending, up to S$1,000 per calendar month
 Boost bonus earn rate to 8 mpd (up to S$1,200 per calendar month) with a minimum deposit of S$50,000
 No minimum spending
 3-year miles expiry term
 7 useful miles transfer partners
 Free miles transfers to frequent flyer programs
 Instant miles transfers
 No annual fee, ever


⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ Poor transfer ratio to KrisFlyer
⚠️ Bonus categories are MCC-sensitive
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee


4.5
UOB Preferred Visa Card

Earn 4 mpd on two bonus categories:1) Mobile Contactless (e.g. Google Pay, Apple Pay)
2) Online Spending (some MCCs only)

More information

Key details of the UOB Preferred Visa Card

Card rating :
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income
:• S’porean/PR: S$15,000 – S$30,000
• Foreigner: S$40,000
Annual fee: S$196.20 (first year waived; request waiver every year)


 Earn 4 mpd on two bonus categories, up to S$600 per calendar month each (total S$1,200):1) Mobile Contactless (e.g. Google Pay, Apple Pay)
2) Online Spending (selected MCCs only)
 No minimum spending


⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ Online Spending category is MCC-sensitive
⚠️ S$5 earning block
⚠️ 2-year miles expiry term
⚠️ Only 2 useful miles transfer partners
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee


📄 Quick review
4.5
Maybank XL Rewards Card

Earn 4 mpd on five bonus categories, including dining, shopping, flights, hotels and any foreign currency spend

More information

Key details of the Maybank XL Rewards Card

Card rating :
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income:• S’porean/PR: S$30,000
• Malaysian: S$45,000
• Foreigner: S$60,000
Annual fee: S$87.20 (first 2 years waived; request waiver every year)


 Earn 4 mpd on five bonus categories, up to S$1,000 per calendar month:1) Dine (e.g. restaurants, bakeries, food delivery)
2) Shop (e.g. apparels, departmental stores)
3) Travel (e.g. airlines, hotels, travel agencies)
4) Play (e.g. bars, cinemas)
5) Foreign Spend (e.g. almost anything in foreign currencies)


⚠️ Only available to those aged 21 – 39 years
⚠️ Minimum card spend of S$500 per calendar month required for bonus earn rate
⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ 1-year miles expiry term (no expiry with Maybank’s Rewards Infinite Programme)
⚠️ Only 3 useful miles transfer partners
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee


4
DBS Woman's World Card

Earn 4 mpd on online spending

More information

Key details of the DBS Woman’s World Card

Card rating :
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income: S$80,000 (not strict)
Annual fee: S$196.20 (first year waived; request waiver every year)


 Earn 4 mpd on online spending, up to S$1,000 per calendar month
 No minimum spending


⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ 1-year miles expiry term
⚠️ Only 3 useful miles transfer partners
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee


📄 Quick review
4
UOB Lady’s Card

Earn 4 mpd on one chosen bonus category

More information

Key details of the UOB Lady’s Card

Card rating :
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income
:• S’porean/PR: S$15,000 – S$30,000
• Foreigner: S$40,000
Annual fee: S$196.20 (first year waived; request waiver every year)


 Earn 4 mpd on 1 chosen bonus category, up to S$1,000 per calendar month
 No minimum spending


⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ Bonus categories are MCC-sensitive
⚠️ 2-year miles expiry term
⚠️ Only 2 useful miles transfer partners
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee


📄 Quick review
4
UOB Visa Signature Card

Earn 4 mpd on two bonus categories:1) Overseas (incl. online in foreign currencies)
2) Local Contactless, Public Transport, Fuel

More information

Key details of the UOB Visa Signature Card

Card rating :
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income
:• S’porean/PR: S$15,000 – S$30,000
• Foreigner: S$40,000
Annual fee: S$218 (first year waived; request waiver every year)


 Earn 4 mpd on two bonus categories, up to S$1,200 per statement month each (total S$2,400):1) Overseas (incl. online in foreign currencies)
2) Local Contactless (e.g. PayWave, Google Pay, Apple Pay), SimplyGo (Public Transport), Fuel


⚠️ Minimum category spend (not card spend) of S$1,000 per statement month required for bonus earn rate
⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ 2-year miles expiry term
⚠️ Only 2 useful miles transfer partners
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee


📄 Quick review
4
UOB Lady’s Solitaire Card

Earn 4 mpd on two chosen bonus categories

More information

Key details of the UOB Lady’s Solitaire Card

Card rating :
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income
: S$120,000
Annual fee: S$414.20 (first year waived; request waiver every year)


 Earn 4 mpd on two chosen bonus categories, up to S$750 per calendar month each (total S$1,500)
 No minimum spending


⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ Bonus categories are MCC-sensitive
⚠️ 2-year miles expiry term
⚠️ Only 2 useful miles transfer partners
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee


📄 Quick review
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Fai

Founder & Writer at Suitesmile

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Fai has spent over a decade maximizing miles and points, visiting 50+ countries through high-value redemptions and helping readers save thousands on travel, including in Business and First Class flights and luxury hotels. His insights have been featured in major news outlets like Channel News Asia and The Straits Times.

All reviews and recommendations come from Fai's own credit card use, travels and research, with rare sponsored articles clearly disclosed.

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