Next Month's Fuel Surcharge for US East Coast Trip, 280,000 → 340,000 Won

Korean Air and Asiana Airlines to Raise International Fuel Surcharges Next Month

At the Korean Air maintenance hangar in Unseo-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon, officials are cleaning a Boeing 747-8i aircraft. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] As international oil prices rise, the fuel surcharges applied to international airline tickets will increase significantly next month. Fuel surcharges are additional fees airlines impose on fares to compensate for losses caused by rising oil prices, reaching the highest level ever.

According to the airline industry on the 16th, Korean Air's international fuel surcharge next month will range from 42,900 KRW to 339,300 KRW based on one-way distance. This is an increase of 5,200 KRW to 59,800 KRW compared to this month's 37,700 KRW to 279,500 KRW.

The surcharge level will rise from the current 19th step to the 22nd step. This is the highest level since the distance-based tier system for fuel surcharges was applied in July 2016. Previously, the 10th step was applied for the first time in March, marking the highest level ever, and it has been rising sharply every month. The average price of jet fuel applied to next month's fuel surcharge is 364 cents per gallon, or 152.88 dollars per barrel.

Asiana Airlines will also impose fuel surcharges ranging from 46,900 KRW to 267,300 KRW depending on distance. This is an increase of 6,500 KRW to 37,700 KRW. With travel demand rising amid insufficient seat supply due to COVID-19 quarantine measures, ticket prices have increased, and the burden of fuel surcharges will also grow. However, the industry expects that the lifting of hourly takeoff and landing limits and flight ban time restrictions will increase supply, which could lead to a decrease in ticket prices.