Singapore will become the first country to charge air passengers a green fuel tax as part of ongoing decarbonisation efforts.
From 1 October 2026, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) will introduce a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) charge for travellers departing the country.
The SAF levy will apply to all tickets or services sold from 1 April 2026, including cargo shipments and business flights.
Charges will vary based on the distance travelled by an air passenger and the cabin of travel, and will be categorised by four geographical bands.
Group one includes Southeast Asia; group two comprises Northeast Asia, South Asia, Australia and Papua New Guinea; Africa, Central and West Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Pacific Islands and New Zealand are in group three and group four includes the Americas.
For example, economy class passengers will pay S$1 (58 pence) for flights to Bangkok, S$2.80 (£1.65) for journeys to Tokyo, S$6.40 (£3.75) for flights to London and S$10.40 (£6) to New York.
Prices will be shown by airlines as a “distinct line item” on the air ticket sold.
The levy will not apply to passengers who are only transiting through Singapore.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has set a goal of net-zero carbon emissions for international aviation by 2050. Singapore said it is “committed to working towards that goal and will do so in a practical manner.”
