March 26, 2026 | 12:01 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vietnam Airlines will cancel nearly two dozen domestic flights per week starting in April 2026 due to limited aviation fuel supplies caused by the war in the Middle East, according to a statement from the national aviation authority, as quoted by Channel News Asia.
Jet fuel prices have soared since the outbreak of the conflict more than three weeks ago. The conflict has disrupted global oil distribution, sparking fears of fuel shortages.
"Vietnam Airlines plans to temporarily suspend operations on several routes starting April 1, totaling 23 flights per week," the country's civil aviation authority said in a statement on Monday evening, March 23, 2026.
The temporarily suspended flights include Hai Phong - Buon Ma Thuot, Hai Phong - Cam Ranh, Hai Phong - Phu Quoc, Hai Phong - Can Tho, Ho Chi Minh City - Van Don, Ho Chi Minh City - Rach Gia, and Ho Chi Minh City - Dien Bien.
According to a report by Vn Express on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, Vietnam Airlines prioritizes maintaining routes that ensure national air connectivity, facilitate trade, tourism, and foreign relations, while maintaining domestic routes to meet travel demand.
Fuel Surcharge
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), which covers nearly 40 international and regional airlines, also plans to implement fuel surcharges on international routes, likely to take effect in early April. More than 60 percent of airlines have implemented or plan to implement fuel surcharges, which increase flight fares, starting in mid-March 2026.
Some airlines, such as Air France, Thai Airways, and United Airlines, have not yet implemented separate fuel surcharges but have incorporated them into base fares. As a result, airfares increase by between 5 percent and 20 percent, depending on the route and class of service.
Other airlines have implemented separate fuel surcharges (YQ/YR) – additional charges on top of base fares – with flexible adjustments based on fuel price fluctuations. Airlines such as Malaysia Airlines, All Nippon Airways, and China Southern Airlines have implemented or increased these surcharges. The increases range from around US$5 (approximately Rp84,000) to over US$380 (approximately Rp6.4 million) per ticket, depending on flight distance and class of service.
The CAAV noted that limited supplies of Jet A-1 aviation fuel put domestic airlines at risk of shortages.
Read: Vietnam Airlines Launches Jakarta-Hanoi Direct Route
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