Why are the cost of flights going up in 2026?

The cost of flights are going up in 2026 as a reflection of the increasing cost of airline fuel due to the conflict in the Middle East. To help absorb some of the increased fuel costs, some airlines have added transparent fuel surcharges, while others have blended these additional costs into their overall fare pricing.

Are Canadian airlines raising the cost of flights?

Yes, pretty much all Canadian airlines have either raised their fares or added a fuel surcharge to help compensate for the increased cost of fuel in 2026.

What are airline surcharges?

Airline surcharges are additional fees that airlines charge on top of the base fare to cover things like fuel, airport costs, and other expenses. To learn more about why these exist and how they're imposed, we recommend checking out our guide to airline surcharges and ticket pricing.

Erin Partridge

Erin Partridge enjoys travelling slowly and taking her time to get to know each new place.  She’s had the opportunity to live in Canada and South Korea, with shorter stints in Vietnam, Malaysia, Mexico, Spain, and more.

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Airlines

Fuel Surcharges and Price Increases: Which Airlines Have Announced New Costs?

Mar 30, 2026