Editorial Team
Our content team
6 min read
Munich to Bangkok, round trip: 3,200 euros. Six weeks ago it was 1,000.
I checked the number three times. A 225 percent increase on one of Germany's most popular long-haul routes, according to Mannheim24. Frankfurt to Singapore? Euronews Travel reports prices jumped from 400 to 800 euros up to over 2,000. These aren't outliers.
The reason: jet fuel shot from $85 to $90 per barrel to $150 to $200 since late February 2026. Airliners.de reports the price nearly doubled in just a few days. The Iran conflict, the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, roughly 25 percent of the world's jet fuel supply stuck there. That's the short version.
But here's what I actually care about: what does this mean for flight prices in 2026 specifically, and what can you do right now?
Quick Answer: Jet fuel has nearly doubled since February 2026 (from $85 to $150 to $200 per barrel). Long-haul routes to Asia and Australia are hardest hit, with increases of 150 to 400 percent. European short-haul flights remain largely unaffected. If you're flexible, you can still travel cheaply.
Long-haul vs. Short-haul: Where Does Expensive Jet Fuel Hit 2026 Flight Prices Hardest?
Anyone planning Thailand, Bali, or Japan has a real problem right now. The price explosion mainly hits routes through Gulf hubs like Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi. Jet fuel accounts for 20 to 30 percent of an airline's operating costs, according to the German Aviation Industry Association (BDL). On long-haul flights, you feel every cent of that.
Good news if you're eyeing Mallorca, Crete, or the Costa del Sol: European short-haul flights remain largely unaffected according to Euronews Travel. Different supply chains, and the absolute cost increases on shorter flights stay manageable.
Anyone who wants to fly cheap in 2026 and has flexibility is genuinely better off with Southern Europe this summer. Sounds blunt. It is. But swapping Bangkok for Mallorca could save you around 1,500 euros this summer, and you still get a holiday.
Which Airlines Are Best Protected?
Not every airline gets hit equally. An airline that doesn't add a fuel surcharge to tickets has usually done fuel hedging, meaning it locked in jet fuel prices ahead of time.
Ryanair: 80 percent hedged at $67 per barrel
Easyjet: 84 percent for the first half of 2026
Air France-KLM: 87 percent
Lufthansa: Only 28 percent for 2026
That last one stings. Germany's largest long-haul carrier has comparatively little protection. When the hedging runs out, full market prices land directly in the ticket. And that's on routes that have already gotten more expensive. IATA Director General Willie Walsh was blunt about it: "This will hit everyone."
For you, that means short-haul flights on Ryanair or Easyjet will probably stay more stable than Lufthansa long-haul routes to Asia. But before you get too optimistic about budget carriers, check out what Ryanair and Easyjet charge on the side (Coming Soon), because baggage fees can quickly eat up whatever you save on the ticket.
Maybe you're thinking: isn't the government doing something about this? Good question.
The Tax Cut from July: Does It Actually Help?
The German government is lowering the air travel tax starting July 1, 2026. Short-haul drops from 15.53 to 13.03 euros, long-haul from 70.83 to 59.43 euros.
Sounds nice at first. But honestly? An 11.40 euro saving on long-haul when your ticket went up by 500 to 2,000 euros. That's a band-aid on a broken leg. Take it. But don't count on it.
Add in rising airport fees (Coming Soon), where Germany already hit a new EU record in 2026, and you get a double cost squeeze that lands directly in the ticket price. Summer 2026 flight prices are staying significantly more expensive than they were just a few months ago.
2026 Flight Prices Too High? What You Should Do Now
Flight prices in 2026 have jumped sharply because of expensive jet fuel. What you do depends on your situation:
Already booked? Do nothing for now. Your ticket price is locked in. Rebooking almost never makes sense unless you're offered a free cancellation. But what happens if your flight gets cancelled anyway (Coming Soon) because of further escalation, we've covered in detail.
Need to book for a fixed date? Don't wait. Prices could climb further as airline hedging contracts expire. For long-haul especially: sooner is better.
Flexible with dates and destination? Look at European alternatives. Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal. Anyone who travels flexible and light (Coming Soon) is in a great spot right now: fewer baggage fees, less tied to expensive long-haul routes. Or push the long-haul trip to 2027, when summer 2026 flight prices on long-haul should come down. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects significantly lower jet fuel prices for next year.
One last thought: on a 2,000 euro ticket, excess baggage fees hurt twice as much. Paying 50 to 100 euros extra because your suitcase is too heavy, that's money you really don't want to spend given current flight prices. A lightweight Cabin Max Anode Handgepäck Koffer 55x40x20 - Leicht, Hartschale, Handgepäck Trolley mit 4 Rädern or well-organized Cipway Kompressions-Packwürfel-Set, ultraleicht, erweiterbar, Reise-Organizer für Handgepäck, 3 Stück can genuinely make a difference. Check our guide on traveling with carry-on only (Coming Soon) for more.
Cabin Max Anode Handgepäck Koffer 55x40x20 - Leicht, Hartschale, Handgepäck Trolley mit 4 Rädern
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