Passengers departing from Singapore will have to pay up to $32 in green fuel surcharges.

VHO - From 2026, passengers departing from Singapore airports will have to pay a green fuel tax of up to S$41.60 (US$31.95) per trip.

Money collected from passengers will be used to buy concentrated sustainable aviation fuel. Photo: AFP

The initiative to introduce a green fuel levy of up to S$41.60 (US$31.95) for passengers departing from Singapore is seen as a major step in the island nation's efforts to cut aviation emissions.

Among them, passengers flying economy and premium economy, as well as passengers on short-haul flights, will be charged much lower fees.

From 2026, these passengers will have to pay an extra S$1 for trips to Southeast Asia and S$10.40 for flights to the Americas, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said on November 10.

Meanwhile, business and first class passengers will have to pay four times the fee.

According to the European Commission, the global aviation industry accounts for only a relatively small share of total global greenhouse gas emissions (1.2% last year).

However, rising travel demand, coupled with higher sustainable fuel costs and limited supply, are among the key barriers to the industry's efforts to decarbonise.

The International Air Transport Association also said that although sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production doubled last year, it only accounts for 0.3% of total global jet fuel volume.

Singapore's announcement comes as the COP30 meeting in Brazil gets underway, where negotiators from nearly 200 countries will discuss technical details of the world 's efforts to mitigate climate change.

While this tax may come as a surprise to some passengers, it is cheaper than initially expected.

The government had previously estimated the tax to be between S$3-16, however, lower SAF fuel costs have pushed for a lower tax.

Singapore is now the first country in the world to levy a passenger tax, and the levy is particularly significant given its role as a global aviation hub.

This year, Changi Airport is close to hitting a record, with passenger numbers expected to surpass the previous record of 68.3 million in 2019.

The fee collected from passengers will be used to purchase concentrated sustainable aviation fuel as Singapore targets to achieve a SAF adoption rate of 3% to 5% by 2030.

Also according to StraitsTimes news agency, the Singapore Government has set a goal for the aviation industry to use environmentally sustainable fuel from 2026.

As a result, ticket prices for flights departing from the country will include a tax to help fund payments for sustainable aviation fuel.

The environmentally friendly fuel, which is mainly made from waste materials such as used cooking oil, is three to five times more expensive than conventional fuel. However, it is seen as an important way for the aviation industry to decarbonize.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/du-lich/hanh-khach-khoi-hanh-tu-singapore-se-phai-tra-toi-32-do-la-my-phi-nhien-lieu-xanh-180632.html