Prolonged Middle East War... International Flight Fuel Surcharge Hits Record High at Stage 33

Up to 564,000 Won Charged for One-Way Tickets

As the war in the Middle East drags on and high oil prices persist, the fuel surcharge for international flight tickets issued in May has risen to the highest level.

View of Incheon International Airport runway from the Incheon Airport Observatory. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to the airline industry on April 16, the average price of Singapore jet fuel (MOPS) applied to the fuel surcharge for May is 511.21 cents per gallon (214.71 dollars per barrel). Since the highest level, Stage 33, is based on a threshold of more than 470 cents per barrel, the May fuel surcharge falls under Stage 33.

The fuel surcharge is an additional amount airlines charge on fares to offset losses from rising oil prices. It is set monthly by each airline after their own adjustments, based on the distance-based system from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Stage 33 is 15 levels higher than April, which was at Stage 18, making it the largest month-on-month increase since the current fuel surcharge system was introduced in 2016. This is also the first time Stage 33 has been applied. In March, the fuel surcharge was at Stage 6.

Korean Air announced its international fuel surcharge for May on this day. The surcharge will range from a minimum of 75,000 won to a maximum of 564,000 won for a one-way ticket. Last month, it ranged from 42,000 won to 303,000 won.

Asiana Airlines and low-cost carriers (LCCs) are also planning to announce their fuel surcharges for May soon.

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