(Korean Air)
International airfare fuel surcharges are set to go down, easing some of the burden on travelers after fares surged due to the impact of conflict in the Middle East.
Korean Air Lines Co. announced on Monday that it will lower its international fuel surcharge level for tickets issued in June from Level 33 to Level 27.
The reduction is larger on long-haul routes. For flights between Incheon and U.S. destinations such as New York and Washington, the fuel surcharge will go down from 564,000 won ($379.02) in May to 451,500 won in June for one-way trips. For round-trip tickets, travelers could save 225,000 won.
European routes such as Incheon to London, Paris, and Rome will also see fuel surcharges fall from 501,000 won to 409,500 won.
Short-haul routes are also being reduced across the board.
Southeast Asian routes including Manila, Hanoi, and Danang will drop from 180,000 won to 147,000 won, while short-distance China and Japan routes such as Qingdao and Fukuoka will go down from 75,000 won to 61,500 won.
Fuel surcharges are applied based on the ticket issuance date, not the departure date. Travelers planning to buy summer vacation tickets may benefit from waiting until after June 1 to make their purchase.
The surcharge reduction comes as the average price of Singapore jet fuel (MOPS), which serves as the benchmark for fuel surcharge calculations, has gone down.
The average Singapore jet fuel price from April 16 to May 15 was recorded at 410.02 cents per gallon – more than 100 cents lower than the benchmark used for May calculations at 511.21 cents per gallon.
Rising summer travel demand, however, could still push up base fares during peak season.
“It is true that the June fuel surcharge reduction lowers the burden on long-haul travelers,” said an industry official. “During the summer peak season, however, base fares may rise depending on booking rates and remaining seat availability, so travelers should carefully compare final ticket prices by route.”
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