Additional Flight Burden
Domestic airlines, such as Korean Air and Asiana Airline, will impose higher fuel surcharges on international passengers next month than this month due to the rise of jet fuel prices, according to the transport ministry of South Korea on November 16.
The transport ministry said that fuel surcharges on international routes will rise up to 36,000 won (US$32.4) next month from 20,400 won (US$18.3) this month.
The airlines had not imposed fuel surcharges on long-distance routes from May to September this year, as the average price of jet fuel had remained below US$1.50 per gallon during the period.
They started, however, to impose the surcharges on international routes last month as the average fuel price surpassed the benchmark price. Next month's average jet fuel price has been set US$1.70 per gallon, up from US$1.63 last month.
Local airlines are usually allowed to impose fuel surcharges on a monthly basis when the average jet fuel price rises above the benchmark price of US$1.50 a gallon, while the surcharges vary depending on travel distance.