Rising fuel costs to increase summer travel prices

Higher fuel prices will likely make summer travel more expensive this year, Swedish public broadcaster SVT reports. While airlines and ferry operators adjust to soaring costs, bus and train travel remain largely unaffected.

Flight prices may rise later in 2026 if global tensions persist, according to SVT’s economics commentator Alexander Norén. Airlines face a “double blow” as both crude oil and refined jet fuel have surged in price. Some carriers, including Ving and TUI, have locked in fuel costs through long-term contracts before the recent Middle East crisis, temporarily shielding customers from hikes.

Ving estimates that if current prices hold, a round-trip Mediterranean flight this autumn could cost around 300 SEK (≈27 EUR) more, while a winter Canary Islands trip might rise by 500 SEK (≈45 EUR). Fuel typically accounts for 30% of an airline’s operating costs, Norén notes, meaning passengers will ultimately bear the burden of sustained price increases.

Ferry operators are also raising fares. Stena Line will adjust prices and reduce speeds to cut fuel use, while Tallink has added a 4 EUR surcharge per one-way Stockholm departure and 3 EUR per cruise to offset emissions and fuel costs.

Bus companies Flixbus and Vy, along with rail operator SJ, report no planned price increases. SJ adds that it has seen no shift in booking patterns despite higher fossil fuel costs elsewhere.