The SAF levy Singapore announced in 2025 is now confirmed and collected. On 3 September 2026 the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Levy applies to tickets sold from 1 October 2026, for flights departing Singapore from 1 January 2027. In economy it adds S$1 to $10.40 a ticket depending on where you fly, and up to $41.60 in business or first class.
The amounts are the same as those CAAS set in November 2025. What changed is the timing: the levy was originally due on tickets sold from 1 April 2026.
What the SAF Levy Singapore Charges, by Destination
CAAS groups destinations into four bands. The levy is per passenger, per departure from Singapore.
| Band | Destinations | Economy and premium economy | Business and first |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Southeast Asia | S$1.00 | $4.00 |
| II | Northeast Asia, South Asia, Australia, Papua New Guinea | $2.80 | $11.20 |
| III | Africa, Central and West Asia, Europe, Middle East, Pacific Islands, New Zealand | $6.40 | $25.60 |
| IV | Americas | $10.40 | $41.60 |
CAAS’s own examples for direct economy flights: Bangkok $1, Tokyo $2.80, London $6.40 and New York $10.40.
The short version: The SAF levy is small next to the fare. A family of four flying economy to Tokyo pays $11.20 in total. What matters more is the date the ticket was sold, not the date you fly.
Who Pays and Who Does Not
The levy applies to origin-destination passengers, meaning people whose journey starts in Singapore. In its November 2025 release, CAAS said:
- Transit passengers are exempt. If you are connecting through Changi without starting your trip here, you do not pay it.
- Multi-stop trips use the next stop. The band is set by the immediate next destination after Singapore.
- Training flights and charitable or humanitarian flights are not covered.
The levy also applies to general and business aviation, and to air cargo. CAAS has deferred the cargo levy by one year: it now applies to cargo services sold from 1 October 2027 for flights departing from 1 January 2028.
How It Shows Up on Your Ticket
CAAS requires airlines to show the SAF Levy as a separate line in the fare breakdown, like other taxes and charges. When you compare fares on an airline site or a booking platform, look in the taxes section rather than the base fare.
The money goes to a statutory SAF Fund. A CAAS-owned company, the Singapore Sustainable Aviation Fuel Company (SAFCo), collects the levy and buys SAF. CAAS said SAFCo plans to issue a request for proposal by end-2026, with the first SAF expected to be uplifted in mid-2027.
How It Adds to Other Changi Charges
The SAF levy sits alongside the existing departure charges, which are also going up. CAAS announced in November 2024 that for departing origin-destination passengers:
- the Passenger Service and Security Fee stays at $46.40 until 31 March 2027, then rises by $3 a year to $58.40 from 1 April 2030;
- the Aviation Levy rises once, from $8 to $10 on 1 April 2027.
So an economy passenger flying to Tokyo after 1 April 2027 will pay $2.80 more for the SAF levy and $5 more for those two charges than in 2026. Illustration only, based on CAAS’s published amounts; airlines may change their own fares and surcharges separately.
What This Means for Your Travel Budget
For most holiday trips the levy is a rounding error. Where it adds up:
- Families and groups. It is per passenger, so multiply by headcount.
- Premium cabins to long-haul destinations. Four business-class seats to the US add $166.40.
- Award tickets. Taxes and charges on miles bookings are paid in cash. If you are weighing miles against a cash fare, include them. Our guide to miles vs cash for flights shows the sum.
What To Do Next
- Check the taxes line before you pay, and make sure the SAF levy amount matches the band for your first stop.
- If you bought before 1 October 2026 and are asked to rebook, ask the airline whether the change counts as a new sale.
- Budget the whole trip, not just the fare, with our family holiday budget guide and the budget planner.
- If you book through a platform, our Trip.com review explains how taxes and fees are shown there.
