Don't Be Surprised, Holidays to Singapore to Become More Expensive from April 2026
Don’t Be Surprised, Holidays to Singapore to Become More Expensive from April 2026
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Planning a trip to Singapore? Prepare to dig deeper into your pockets. The Singapore government has officially introduced a tax related to the use of environmentally friendly fuel as part of a strategy to curb emissions in the aviation sector.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) stated that the regulation will apply to all passengers flying from Singapore, whether on short-haul or long-haul routes.
This policy makes Singapore the first country to impose a specific tariff to encourage the use of sustainable aviation fuel.
The government considers this step essential for the aviation industry to begin transitioning to cleaner energy while meeting long-term emission targets.
Citing the Independent, the levy will apply to all tickets or services sold starting from 1 April 2026, including cargo shipments and business flights.
The tariff amount will vary based on the passenger’s travel distance and cabin class, categorised into four geographical regions.
Group one includes Southeast Asia; group two includes Northeast Asia, South Asia, Australia, and Papua New Guinea; Africa, Central and West Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Pacific Islands, and New Zealand are in group three, and group four includes the Americas.
For example, economy class passengers will pay S$1 for flights to Bangkok, S$2.80 to Tokyo, S$6.40 to London, and S$10.40 to New York.
The prices will be listed by airlines as a separate line item on flight tickets sold. However, the levy will not apply to passengers only transiting through Singapore.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has set a net-zero carbon emission target for international aviation by 2050. Singapore is committed to achieving this target.
“The introduction of the SAF Levy marks a significant step in Singapore’s efforts to build a more sustainable and competitive aviation hub,” said CAAS Director-General, Han Kok Juan.
“We need to start. We have done it in a measured way, and we are giving time for the industry, businesses, and the public to adapt,” he added.