Airlines to levy record fuel surcharges on int'l routes in June

SEOUL, May 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korean airlines are set to impose record fuel surcharges on international routes in June in the wake of soaring jet fuel prices, industry sources said Monday.

Starting June 1, the surcharge for one-way tickets on international routes will range from 37,700 won (US$29.4) to 293,800 won, depending on the routes, a Korean Air Lines official said.

The planned increase will raise the surcharges to the highest Level 19 from the current Level 17.

In April 2021, rising jet fuel prices forced local carriers to begin imposing fuel surcharges after a one-year hiatus. Fuel surcharges on international routes had stayed at zero since April 2020 due to the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

Local carriers' surcharges vary on the level of jet fuel prices traded on the Singaporean market.

If the average jet fuel price on the Singapore spot market rises over $1.50 per gallon during the past month, South Korean airlines are allowed to impose fuel surcharges starting one month later. If jet fuel prices drop below the threshold, no surcharge is collected.

Jet fuel prices averaged $3.36 per gallon on the Singaporean market for the one month from April 16 to May 15.

Meanwhile, fuel surcharges on domestic routes will rise to 17,600 won in the coming month from 14,300 won in May.

Industry watchers voiced concern that rising fuel surcharges may stymie a recovery in demand for international air travel following eased COVID-19 restrictions in South Korea.

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