- 20 March 2026
Airfreight Update: Fuel Price Volatility and Airline Surcharges
Ongoing geopolitical tension in the Middle East and increased risk surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy transit route, continue to place upward pressure on fuel prices. As fuel costs rise, airlines continue to implement variable fuel-related surcharges.Current market impacts include:
- Variable fuel surcharges applied across multiple trade lanes
- Immediate pricing increases from airlines, often with limited notice
- Fuel‑driven market rate increases replacing previously stable pricing structures
- Flight cancellations and service consolidations impacting available uplift
Airfreight
Airlines are responding rapidly to rising aviation fuel costs through a combination of fuel surcharge increases, market‑driven rate adjustments and operational changes including the cancellation of selected services where costs have become unsustainable.We have received multiple airline notifications advising of immediate fuel surcharge and pricing increases, effective from mid‑March. At the same time, capacity is tightening as airlines cancel or consolidate flights, placing further pressure on space availability and rates.
Please refer to the table below for a detailed breakdown of airline‑specific changes, including effective dates, surcharge types, and applicable rates
We anticipate further announcements from additional carriers in the short term as fuel prices remain elevated and network reviews continue.
Suggested Action
At this stage, please continue to book international shipments as normal, however please give our teams as much notice as possible to find the most optimal routing option. Given the impact of flight cancellations and reduced capacity, we encourage our customers to allow more time for their airfreight shipments to reach their destination.Your Mainfreight Customer Service, Sales, and Operations teams are well placed to:
- Provide visibility on applicable fuel and variable surcharge changes
- Review shipments impacted by airline pricing or capacity adjustments
- Discuss alternative routes, carriers, or service options where required
- Support forward planning in response to ongoing market volatility
- For customers with shipments currently in transit that may be affected, your local Mainfreight representative will be in contact as required.
We will continue to monitor developments closely and provide further updates as new information becomes available.
For further information on this
As always, please reach out to your local Mainfreight representative if you’d like to understand or discuss any of the above solutions.
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