How the November limit applies
The average jet fuel price on November 1 was Rp23,315 per liter, leaving it within the bracket for the 40 percent cap: above Rp21,950 and up to Rp25,900 per liter. The ministry reviews supplier-published average prices against the brackets established in Transportation Ministerial Decree No. KM 1041 of 2026, which governs fuel surcharges for economy passengers on scheduled domestic commercial flights.
Speaking in Jakarta on Monday, Director General of Civil Aviation Lukman F. Laisa distinguished the surcharge limit from a ticket price increase. "It does not mean that airfares will increase by 40 percent," he said. Tickets must show the fuel surcharge separately from the basic fare.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said carriers can choose a lower surcharge based on operating conditions, business strategy and competition, while following applicable regulations. They must also observe the prevailing fare ceiling and provide the service quality required for their service category.
"The ministry will continue to monitor the implementation of fuel surcharges and airlines' compliance with flight fare regulations," Laisa said. The ministry said its regular fuel-price and airfare reviews seek to keep flights affordable while supporting airline operations and national air connectivity.
Earlier changes to the surcharge
The current maximum took effect on September 1, 2026, when the ministry raised it from August's 30 percent to 40 percent of the upper-limit fare. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the national average jet fuel price rose about 6.5 percent over that period, from Rp21,892 per liter in August to Rp23,315 per liter on September 1.
An earlier adjustment came in April, when the government set a 38 percent ceiling for both jet and propeller aircraft. The previous limits had been 10 percent for jets and 25 percent for propeller aircraft, according to the Cabinet Secretariat.
The April measure formed part of a package designed to hold domestic economy-class airfare increases to around 9–13 percent. It also provided for an 11 percent government-borne value-added tax, with funding of Rp1.3 trillion a month, or Rp2.6 trillion over two months, and zero import duty on aircraft spare parts.
Fuel costs and airline service cuts
Higher fuel costs have prompted Indonesian airlines to cut domestic and international routes and flight frequencies since April 2026, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, as reported by Bisnis.com. In August, seven domestic carriers temporarily halted flights on 17 domestic routes, affecting 108 weekly frequencies. The suspended routes represented about 6 percent of the 303 routes operating during the Summer 2026 period.
In August, the Indonesian Aviation Service Users Association (APJAPI) said the scope for further surcharge reductions depended largely on global oil prices, which remained exposed to geopolitical tensions, The Jakarta Post reported. APJAPI chairman Alvin Lie also cited the weak rupiah as a source of higher airline costs. He said carriers were prioritizing international services, which earn dollar revenue and are not subject to domestic fare caps.
Another fuel-related cost is due in 2027. The Jakarta Post reported in August 2026 that airlines will be required to blend 1 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into their overall fuel use. At the time of that report, SAF cost three to four times as much as conventional jet fuel.
