Petrobras increased the average price of aviation kerosene sold to Brazilian distributors by 18% effective Friday, May 1, 2026 [1].

The price adjustment directly impacts the operational costs of airlines within Brazil. Because fuel represents a primary expense for carriers, these increases often lead to higher ticket prices for passengers and tighter profit margins for regional aviation companies.

The company applied a price increase of R$1.00 per litre [1]. This move comes amid an "exceptional context caused by geopolitical issues" [3], specifically a sharp rise in Brent crude prices linked to the conflict between the U.S. and Iran [1].

While most tier-1 sources report an 18% increase [1], [2], some reports have suggested a higher hike of 55% [6]. Petrobras said the adjustment is a response to global market volatility.

The aviation fuel hike is part of a broader series of price adjustments. Petrobras also increased the price of piped natural gas by 19.2% [5].

Industry analysts said the kerosene hike could lead to a 100% increase in the main cost burden for some airlines [4]. The company's decision to align domestic prices with international Brent crude trends reflects the volatility of the current global energy market, a trend that has historically triggered inflation across the Brazilian transport sector.

“Petrobras increased the average price of aviation kerosene sold to Brazilian distributors by 18%”

This price surge underscores the vulnerability of Brazil's domestic aviation sector to geopolitical instability in the Middle East. By tying fuel costs to Brent crude, Petrobras passes global market volatility directly to distributors and airlines, which likely will result in increased airfares and potentially reduced flight frequencies as carriers struggle to absorb the R$1.00 per litre increase.