Porter Airlines has confirmed that it has added a CA$40 ($29) fuel surcharge for all flights redeemed with points in its loyalty program, VIPorter, as the airline looks to mitigate rising fuel costs.
In a statement to The Engine Cowl, Porter Airlines confirmed that, as a result of the recent spike in fuel prices, it is “introducing a temporary fuel surcharge on all VIPorter flight redemptions.”
“This adjustment will be applied as a 'Peak Surcharge' to each passenger, each way. […] This update goes into effect for all new VIPorter flight bookings as of March 23, 2026 - any existing bookings are unaffected.”
The Canadian carrier reiterated that the surcharge is “expected” to be temporary, and as soon as jet fuel prices stabilize and return to normal levels, the surcharge will be removed.
“We want to be transparent about why this change is necessary. Fuel represents the highest cost of airline operations, and this surcharge allows us to maintain the number of points required for redemption.”
For standard fares, fares are adjusted “to account for variable fuel prices on a route-by-route basis,” Porter Airlines’ statement said, adding that fares vary by region and are included in the total price that customers always see.
In Canada, other airlines have chosen to increase the base fares as well to combat the rising jet fuel prices. During a Q1 FY26 earnings call on March 10, Annick Guérard, the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Transat, warned investors that an immediate fare rise would impact demand, and that the airline wants to strike a “fair balance.”
Still, the Canadian carrier has increased fuel surcharges on flights to Europe, yet the surcharge is “blended in the total price.”
“What we are also doing is currently raising fares on peak travel dates and routes where we see less competition, where we have more flexibility.”
Some airlines have taken a different approach, with, for example, Air New Zealand announcing that it would consolidate some domestic and international routes, offering fewer weekly frequencies as fuel prices spiked due to the conflict in Iran.
According to the Platts Jet Fuel Index, the current average global price of jet fuel is $1,544.88 per metric ton, while the average price during the week ending March 20 was $1,555.68.
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