Singapore to become first country to tax air passengers on aviation fuel
Singapore will introduce a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) levy on air passengers departing the country, making it the first nation to tax its flyers on green jet fuel. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) plans to roll out the levy from 1 October 2026, with tickets and services sold from 1 April 2026 also subject to the charge.
The levy depends on both flight distance and cabin class, broken into four geographic bands: Southeast Asia; Northeast Asia, South Asia, Australia and Papua New Guinea; Africa, Europe, Middle East, and the Pacific; and the Americas.
Economy-class travelers flying to Bangkok will pay S$1, while flights to Tokyo will cost S$2.80, London S$6.40, and New York S$10.40.
Passengers will see the SAF charge displayed as a separate line item on their tickets. Notably, the levy won’t apply to people merely transiting through Singapore.
CAAS Director-General Han Kok Juan said the move aims to balance environmental responsibility with economic competitiveness, offering the aviation sector time to adapt. Singapore sees the levy as a practical first step toward its net-zero aviation goals, aligned with ICAO’s 2050 ambition.
Source: Independent [Link]
