Airlines Allowed to Increase Additional Fees by 50 Percent, Plane Tickets at Risk of Rising

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Directorate General of Civil Aviation of the Ministry of Transportation has established a policy to adjust the fuel surcharge for economy class passenger fares on scheduled commercial domestic air transport. This provision is contained in Ministerial Decree Number KM 1041 of 2026. The policy was issued in response to the recent rise in aviation fuel (avtur) prices, while also ensuring the continuity of operations in the national aviation industry without neglecting aspects of consumer protection and ticket affordability. The regulation explains that the fuel surcharge amount is determined based on the average avtur price set by aviation fuel suppliers. The percentage of the additional fee charged ranges from 10 percent to 100 percent of the upper tariff limit, adjusting to fluctuations in the applicable avtur price. Director General of Civil Aviation, Lukman F. Laisa, stated that the provisions for implementing the additional fee can be applied by airlines starting from 13 May 2026. “The fuel surcharge policy is a mechanism regulated by the government to anticipate fluctuations in aviation fuel prices and maintain the continuity of national air transport services,” said Lukman in an official statement on Thursday (14/5/2026). “The fuel surcharge adjustment is carried out based on the mechanism and formula established in the regulation. The government continues to ensure that the implementation of this policy is measured, while still considering consumer protection, tariff affordability, and the operational continuity of airlines,” he continued. In its implementation, airlines are required to list the fuel surcharge component separately on passenger tickets from the base fare (basic fare), in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Lukman emphasised that his office will continue to monitor and evaluate the implementation of this policy to ensure it runs transparently, accountably, and still considers the interests of the public using air transport services. “With the enactment of Ministerial Decree Number KM 1041 of 2026, Ministerial Decree Number KM 83 of 2026 on Fuel Surcharge is declared revoked and no longer valid,” he asserted. In line with this, the government has officially raised the maximum fuel surcharge limit for scheduled domestic economy class flights to 50 percent. This figure is a significant increase compared to the previous provision in April 2026, which was still around 38 percent of the upper tariff limit. This policy only applies to scheduled commercial domestic air transport services for economy class. The government also requires airlines to list the aviation fuel additional cost component separately from the base fare or basic fare in the passenger ticket details, to maintain transparency of information to consumers. This step is taken to ensure the operational continuity of the national aviation industry amid increasing pressure from higher fuel costs. The government considers the fuel surcharge adjustment necessary so that airlines can continue to operate healthily without disrupting the stability of domestic flight services.