"Family Trip to Osaka Now Costs an Extra 450,000 Won in Surcharges Alone"... Fuel Surcharges Cause Sticker Shock

April Fuel Surcharges for Flights to Soar by Up to Three Times
Korean Air Up 247%, Asiana Airlines Up 223%
Rising Oil Prices Push Overseas Travel Costs Higher

Due to a sharp rise in international oil prices, international flight fuel surcharges will significantly increase starting next month, leading to higher costs for overseas travel. The surcharges will jump by as much as nearly three times within a month, affecting both short-haul routes like Japan and long-haul routes to the United States and Europe, which is expected to substantially increase expenses for travelers preparing for vacations.

Image to help understand the article. The Asia Business Daily DB

According to the airline industry on March 18, Korean Air will impose international fuel surcharges ranging from 42,000 won to 303,000 won per ticket, based on great-circle distance (the shortest distance between two points), starting April 1. Asiana Airlines will also apply surcharges between 43,900 won and 251,900 won from the same date.

"Surcharges More Fearsome Than Ticket Prices"... Up to 247% Increase from Previous Month

With this adjustment, Korean Air's maximum fuel surcharge increase rate reached 247% compared to the previous month, while Asiana Airlines recorded a 223% increase. In just one month, fuel surcharges have soared to nearly three times their previous levels.

By route, for Korean Air, the shortest routes—such as Shenyang, Qingdao, Dalian, Yanji, and Fukuoka—will have a fuel surcharge of 42,000 won. The 500–999 mile segment, which includes major routes frequented by Korean travelers such as Osaka, Nagoya, Tokyo, and major cities in China (Shanghai, Beijing, etc.), will see a surcharge of 57,000 won, a 171% increase from the previous month.

For a family of four booking round-trip tickets to Osaka, Japan, with Korean Air in April, the total fuel surcharge alone would amount to 456,000 won.

The mid- and long-haul segments, which include many Southeast Asian routes, have also seen significant increases. The 1,500–1,999 mile segment is set at 97,500 won (a 225% increase), 2,000–2,999 miles at 123,000 won (a 215% increase), and 3,000–3,999 miles at 126,000 won (a 200% increase).

The 4,000–4,999 mile segment, which includes Middle Eastern routes, will have a fuel surcharge of 199,500 won, representing a 209% increase from the previous month. The 5,000–6,499 mile segment, covering Europe and the U.S. West Coast, will be subject to a surcharge of 276,000 won, while the 6,500–9,999 mile segment, which includes the U.S. East Coast, will see a surcharge of 303,000 won.

US-Iran Conflict Hits Jet Fuel... Highest Level in 3 Years and 6 Months

This surge in fuel surcharges is largely attributed to rising jet fuel prices caused by the US-Iran war. Airlines determine the fuel surcharge level based on the average jet fuel price (MOPS), and between February 16 and March 15 of this year, the average price reached 326.71 cents per gallon (137.22 dollars per barrel). As a result, the surcharge was set at level 18 out of a possible 33 levels.

This represents a jump of 12 levels in just one month, compared to the previous month when level 6 was applied. It is the largest monthly increase since the current fuel surcharge system was introduced in 2016, and the highest level in three years and six months since October 2022 (level 17), when international oil prices soared due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Industry sources predict that the sharp rise in fuel surcharges will lead to increased demand for issuing airline tickets ahead of time this month. Since the surcharge is applied based on the ticket issuance date, there may be a rush to book tickets during March, when the lower levels are still in effect.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.