Singapore will become the first country in the world to implement a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) tax, which will apply to all departing passengers starting in 2026. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) confirmed the move last week.
The tax is based on the amount of SAF required to meet Singapore’s 1% SAF target in 2026, along with projected price premiums and related costs.
How Much Will Europeans Pay?
The fee varies by travel distance and is divided into four zones.
Europe is placed in Zone 4, alongside Africa, Central and West Asia, the Middle East, the Pacific Islands and New Zealand.
Passengers will pay:
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€4.24 — Economy and Premium Economy
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€16.96 — Business and First Class
Other zones:
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Americas (Zone 5): €6.89 and €27.57
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East & South Asia, Australia (Zone 2): €2.52 and €7.42
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Southeast Asia (Zone 1): €0.66 or €2.65
Transit passengers passing through Singapore are exempt.
How the Tax Works for Connecting Flights
The SAF fee applies only to the first outbound leg from Singapore.
Example: Singapore → Amsterdam → Paris → you pay only for Singapore → Amsterdam.
Airlines must display the tax as a separate line item.
Humanitarian, training and charity flights are exempt.
Why Singapore Is Implementing the Tax
It is part of Singapore’s long-term sustainability strategy:
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cut airport emissions by 20% by 2030
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reach net-zero aviation emissions by 2050
CAAS Director-General Han Kok Juan said the policy provides “a fair mechanism for all aviation users to contribute to sustainability,” adding that the industry will have time to adapt.