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Summer 2026 Amid Travel Disruption: Why Your Summer Holiday Might Cost More Than You Expected

Last updated: Apr 14, 2026

Your summer 2026 trip abroad is shaping up to be more expensive than last year, and not because of inflation.

From airline fuel surcharges adding hundreds of dollars to your ticket to new entry fees and accommodation levies at popular destinations, here’s exactly what you’ll pay more for and how much.

Table of Contents

Airlines Are Charging You More Because of the Fuel Crisis

Jet fuel prices have roughly doubled since late February 2026, and airlines are passing those costs directly to passengers through surcharges and fare increases.

The cause: the ongoing US-Iran conflict has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, choking off roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.

Jet fuel in the US went from $2.50 a gallon on 27 February to $4.88 a gallon by early April, while Asian jet fuel surged from US$88 per barrel to over US$200 per barrel in the same period.

The result? Airlines worldwide are hiking fares and adding fuel surcharges. Here’s what specific carriers have announced:

Cathay Pacific — Up to US$400 Extra Per Return Trip

Cathay Pacific has raised fuel surcharges twice in two weeks. Long-haul surcharges jumped from HK$569 to HK$1,560 per sector (roughly US$200 one way) as of 1 April 2026.

That means a return trip between Hong Kong and London now carries roughly US$400 in fuel surcharges alone, a 174% increase from February levels.

IndiGo and Air India — Surcharges Rising Across Routes

IndiGo raised its fuel surcharge for the second time in three weeks from 2 April 2026. Long-haul international flights from India to Europe now carry a surcharge of up to ₹10,000 (roughly US$107) per ticket.

Air India followed with its own surcharge revision. International surcharges range from approximately ₹930 (US$10) per direction for Middle East routes to ₹18,600 (US$200) for North America and Australia.

Air France-KLM — Up to €100 More Per Long-Haul Round Trip

Air France–KLM initially announced a €50 increase on long-haul round-trip fares from March 2026, which has since been raised to €100 per round trip (€70 for US, Canada, and Mexico routes) as fuel costs continue to climb.

Award ticket fuel surcharges and fees also went up by 40% from 28 March. A round-trip Paris–Montréal booking in April now includes about €319 in international surcharges.

Other Airlines Raising Fares

It’s not just these three. Across the industry, fuel surcharges have risen by an average of 34% in 2026.

Here are more carriers affected:

Emirates — carrier-imposed surcharges on long-haul routes to the Americas have reached around US$322 per leg
Singapore Airlines — raised base fares across its network instead of adding a separate surcharge, with long-haul fares reportedly increased by up to US$200
Thai Airways and AirAsia — both adjusting fares and surcharges dynamically as fuel prices fluctuate
United Airlines — cut approximately 5% of its Q2 and Q3 flights, reducing available seats and pushing up remaining fares
SAS — cancelled about 1,000 flights in April due to rising costs

Industry analysts warn that if the Strait of Hormuz disruption continues into mid-2026, summer airfares across Asia, Europe and the Americas could climb 10–15% higher than current levels.

Countries Are Introducing New Tourism Taxes and Fees

Separately from the fuel crisis, governments worldwide are rolling out new tourism taxes for 2026. These fees range from small per-night levies to significant departure taxes, and they add up — especially for families or longer trips.

Here’s what’s new or changing at popular summer destinations this year:

Japan — Departure Tax Triples to ¥3,000

From 1 July 2026, Japan’s international departure tax jumps from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 (roughly US$19) per person. The tax is automatically added to your flight or ferry ticket when departing Japan.

Children under 2 and transit passengers staying under 24 hours are exempt. For a family of four, that’s an extra ¥12,000 (about US$76) added to your travel costs.

On top of that, Hokkaido is introducing a new accommodation tax from April 2026, charging ¥100–¥500 per night depending on room rate. Okinawa has approved a 2% lodging tax (capped at ¥2,000 per night) set to take effect from 1 February 2027.

These are in addition to existing hotel taxes in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto.

Thailand — New 300-Baht Entry Fee

Thailand is set to introduce a 300-baht (roughly US$9) entry fee for international visitors arriving by air in 2026, with collection expected to begin by mid-year. The fee will be collected through your airline ticket, so you won’t need to pay at immigration.

Of that amount, 70 baht covers accident and medical insurance from the moment you enter Thailand. The rest goes toward tourism infrastructure and safety improvements.

Bali, Indonesia — IDR 150,000 Entry Levy

Every international visitor entering Bali must pay a one-time levy of IDR 150,000 (roughly US$10) per person, per entry — including infants.

You can pay online in advance at the official Love Bali portal to receive a QR code, or pay by card at designated counters at Ngurah Rai International Airport. Paying online saves time in the arrival queue.

Europe — Higher City Taxes in Brussels, Venice, Barcelona and Norway

Several European destinations have raised or introduced tourism levies for 2026:

Brussels, Belgium — hotel accommodation tax increased to €5 per overnight stay from 1 January 2026, with homestays and campsites at €4
Venice, Italy — the daytripper fee returns for 60 days in 2026 (up from 54 in 2025), at €5 per person — doubling to €10 if you don’t pre-register at least four days in advance
Barcelona, Spain — Barcelona’s municipal surcharge rises to €5 from April 2026, with five-star hotel guests paying around €12 per night in total (€7 regional tax plus the €5 city surcharge). The surcharge will rise by €1 annually until it hits €8 in 2029
Norway — municipalities in tourism-heavy areas can now apply a 3% tax on overnight stays from summer 2026. A two-night stay of 2,000 NOK would add about NOK 60 (US$5.50)
Bucharest, Romania — a new 10 lei (about €2) per-night tax for all tourist accommodation in 2026

Mexico — Cruise Passenger Tax Rises to US$10

Mexico’s cruise ship passenger tax rises to US$10 per passenger from August 2026, up from the initial US$5 that took effect in mid-2025.

The fee will continue climbing — rising to US$15 from August 2027, then reaching US$21 from August 2028. If you’re cruising to Mexico this summer, the cost is still relatively modest, but worth knowing about.

USA — ESTA Fee Nearly Doubled

If you’re planning a trip to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, note that the ESTA fee rose from US$21 to US$40 on 30 September 2025.

An approved ESTA remains valid for two years. If yours hasn’t expired yet, you won’t need to pay the higher fee until renewal.

How to Keep Your Summer Travel Costs in Check

You can’t avoid these surcharges and taxes, but you can plan around them. A few strategies that can help:

Book sooner rather than later. Fuel surcharges are applied at the time of booking — if prices continue rising, today’s fare may be cheaper than next month’s. Compare fares on Wego to find the best current deals
Check what’s included in your ticket. Some fees (like Japan’s departure tax and Thailand’s entry fee) are bundled into your ticket price. Others (like Bali’s levy) are paid separately — budget for them
Consider destinations with lower or no new fees. Not every country has added new taxes. Use the fees above to factor total trip cost, not just the flight price
Pre-register where required. Venice charges double for daytrippers who don’t pre-register. Bali’s levy is smoother (and queue-free) if paid online in advance
Track flight prices and surcharge changes. Airlines update surcharges frequently during the fuel crisis. Use Wego’s flight tracker to monitor routes and fares

Frequently Asked Questions

Will fuel surcharges go down if the Middle East conflict ends?

Yes, surcharges typically follow fuel prices. However, airlines often reduce surcharges more slowly than they raise them, so expect a lag of several weeks to months even after oil prices stabilise.

Do fuel surcharges apply to tickets I’ve already booked?

No — the surcharge rate at the time of booking applies to your ticket. If you booked before the increases, your existing ticket price stands. New surcharges only apply to new bookings.

Are tourism taxes refundable if I cancel my trip?

It depends on the specific tax. Departure taxes bundled into airline tickets follow the airline’s refund policy. Entry levies like Bali’s are generally non-refundable once paid, so check each destination’s rules before paying in advance.

Do children have to pay these new tourism taxes?

Policies vary by destination. Japan exempts children under 2 from the departure tax, but Bali’s levy applies to all ages — including infants. Always check the specific rules for your destination and your children’s ages.

Sources

Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.