Aviation fuel prices in Russia have been rising since late February this year. On the stock market, the price increase has reached 13.6%, while at the airport fuel supply complexes (TSCs) it has been just under 6%. However, these complexes tend to react with a delay of two weeks to a month to rising stock market prices. According to various estimates, fuel constitutes 25-35% of the ticket price for flights. An increase in the cost of fuel will inevitably be reflected in ticket prices, although the real impact on ticket prices is yet to be determined. The surge in prices can be attributed to rising oil quotes, driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Globally, jet fuel prices have increased significantly more than in Russia—by 60-120%. The steepest hikes have been observed in Europe and Asia. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has even indicated the potential for a fuel shortage in Europe, while Bloomberg has warned of an increase in flight cancellations. The Ministry of Energy assured "RG" that Russia fully meets its domestic demand for aviation fuel, and there are currently no risks of shortage in the internal market. Production capabilities and reserves are sufficient to reliably cover the needs of air carriers. As for price volatility, it is market-driven and linked to external conditions. At present, the situation does not require emergency regulatory measures, according to the ministry. In Russia, a damping mechanism is applied to aviation fuel. This serves as a similar measure to the damping mechanism for automotive fuel but with one significant difference: it is not paid to fuel producers but to carriers—airlines. The state reimburses 65% of the difference between the export price of aviation fuel and the fixed domestic market price set by the government. The Ministry of Energy clarified that this damping mechanism currently keeps the final prices for aviation fuel at a relatively low level. However, this compensation is not complete. Consequently, even though the price of jet fuel is rising slowly and remains significantly lower than in the rest of the world, there are other contributing factors. As noted in an interview with "RG," Yuri Stankevich, Deputy Chair of the State Duma Energy Committee, acknowledged that there is an indirect influence from global market conditions: aviation fuel is a market-traded product, and global oil and petroleum product quotes set the benchmarks. If prices rise or shortages are reported in Europe, this will have implications for the export options of Russian producers. However, there is no direct correlation at this moment, as the Russian market is largely insulated from Europe. Key factors driving price increases include seasonal domestic demand, unscheduled maintenance at oil refineries, rising logistics costs, and overall inflationary pressures. Russia's production of aviation fuel amounts to approximately 12 thousand tonnes per year, more than enough to meet domestic demand, according to Nikita Illeritsky, a specialist in the oil and gas sector service industry representative at Kept. Typically, 10-15% of total production volume is directed towards export. Russian airlines have the right to tax deductions, which also serves as a mechanism to control prices for aviation fuel and, consequently, airfares, comments Sergey Frolov, managing partner at NEFT Research. According to his estimation, air ticket prices will increase in line with the average inflation rate. Stankevich mentioned that, as of now, the situation regarding aviation fuel does not appear to be critical. Fuel constitutes approximately 25-35% of the cost of air transport (depending on the route type). If jet fuel prices rise by, say, 10-15%, the direct contribution to ticket prices could amount to 3-5%. Nevertheless, airlines also consider other factors—such as the exchange rate, leasing payments, airport charges, and demand. Illeritsky believes that if the price of jet fuel continues to rise, airlines will inevitably pass on these costs to the ticket prices. An industry source confirmed to "RG" what the expert suggested. This is already happening. Domestic airlines cannot completely disregard the increase in global prices, particularly regarding international flights, where aircraft are refueled at international, rather than Russian, prices. As representatives from the tourism sector reported to "RG", the rising fuel costs, both domestically and abroad, have a direct impact on ticket prices. The cost increases are uneven and depend on flight duration. The Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) reports a sharp rise among foreign airlines, especially regarding pre-booked blocks of seats. For instance, FUN&SUN noted that the price for tours to Egypt had increased by $57 per person, and fuel surcharges on some routes had risen by more than $110. In Thailand, the average increase was $119, while for specific departure cities, it reached $129. The most notable spike was reported in Vietnam, averaging $161 per person (around 27,500 rubles for two), with some destinations seeing increases of up to $200 (34,200 rubles for two). According to ATOR, airlines are issuing additional invoices for flights scheduled soon, for which tours have already been sold at previous prices, with many tourists already having tickets and vouchers issued. Additionally, the direction of outbound tourism plays a role. Currently, Russian tourists predominantly travel to friendly countries, primarily to the south and east. Due to the conflict in the Middle East, airlines are required to avoid dangerous zones, which increases the consumption of already expensive fuel. The government has the tools necessary to curb prices, Stankevich emphasises. This includes adjusting the damping mechanism, imposing temporary export restrictions on certain types of petroleum products, negotiating with oil companies, and subsidising air travel along socially significant routes. Sergey Tereshkin, CEO of Open Oil Market, argues that the most effective approach would be to stimulate aviation fuel sales through the stock market—a public platform that streamlines wholesale price monitoring. He asserts that export bans or subsidies will not yield the results achievable through supplier competition. Dmitry Gusev, Deputy Chair of the Supervisory Board of the Association "Reliable Partner" and member of the expert council for the "Russian Gas Station" competition, expressed a different opinion. He insists that there is nothing preventing airlines from stockpiling fuel or working directly with producers, which would help to average out prices and protect them from external fluctuations. He believes that airlines should start to hedge their risks themselves—for instance, by purchasing futures: if they incur losses in the physical market, they could offset those losses in the paper market. Gusev suggests a move away from relying on government assistance and regulatory measures. Airlines are commercial entities that pay dividends to shareholders and bonuses to employees, and are not akin to farmers who may be unable to harvest due to rising fuel prices. Companies within the Aeroflot Group, S7 Airlines, Ural Airlines, and Nordwind Airlines did not respond to "RG's" request for comment. Source: [RG.RU](https://rg.ru/2026/04/20/letim-za-vsemi.html?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fcrm.org-market.com%2F)