Asian airlines raise fares, mull groundings as fuel crunch looms

Bloomberg, March 0, 2026 – Asian airlines are raising ticket prices and considering grounding planes as the escalating Middle East conflict drives a sharp surge in jet fuel prices and disrupts supply. Because many Asian carriers have weaker fuel hedging compared with European and US airlines, they are more exposed to rising oil costs, prompting fare increases of up to 15% in India and potentially 70% in Vietnam. Analysts warn that if high fuel prices persist for several months, low-cost carriers with thin margins could face bankruptcy and thousands of planes worldwide may be grounded, highlighting the growing aviation impact of the war and the spike in oil prices.