Singapore to charge passengers up to $50 ‘green tax’ on flights

Green taxes on airfares are about to become very real for passengers flying out of Singapore.

Beginning in April next year, the country will impose a ‘sustainable aviation fuel’ levy of up to $50 on flights departing the Asian super-hub from October 2026.

The cost will be passed on by airlines, and appear on tickets as a distinct line item, with one price for economy and premium economy tickets, and a higher rate for business and first class tickets.

All destinations from Singapore will be grouped into four geographical bands:

• Band 1, Southeast Asia, will carry a surcharge of SGD$1 in economy or premium economy, and SGD$4 in business or first class.
• Band 2 will cover Northeast Asia, South Asia, Australia, and Papua New Guinea, with charges of SGD$2.80 and SGD$11.20.
• Band 3 will encompass New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, Africa, Central and West Asia, Europe and the Middle East, where the green tax will be SGD$6.40 and SGD$25.60.
• Band 4, for North and South America, will attract the highest levy of SGD$10.40 in an economy cabin and SGD$41.60 in a premium cabin.

The levies will go into a fund used to purchase sustainable aviation fuel.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) says the tax was “based on the volume of sustainable aviation fuel needed to meet the 1% SAF target for 2026, and the projected price premium of SAF over conventional jet fuel and other associated costs.”

However, the tax won’t apply to passengers transiting through Singapore – only to those who begin their journey from Changi.

This means exceptions will be made for the Kangaroo Routes flown by Qantas (as QF1/QF2) and British Airways (BA15/BA16), along with many through-flights by Singapore Airlines, such as from Australia to Europe.

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