International flight fuel surcharges to rise in September

International flight fuel surcharges are set to rise in September following a surge in global oil prices driven by military tensions in the Middle East. The surcharge level will jump to stage 21, up from stage 14 in August.

This increase is attributed to the average price of Singapore Aviation Fuel (MOPS), which rose approximately 25.4% to $149.29 per barrel during the July 16 to August 15 calculation period.

Korean Air will see significant increases on long-haul routes; for example, a round trip to the Americas could see an increase of approximately 190,000 won. Asiana Airlines will also apply stage 21, with one-way surcharges ranging from 52,000 to 291,000 won.

The rising fuel costs follow a period of decline, but renewed geopolitical instability has reversed the trend. This volatility is impacting airline profitability; while Korean Air reported record revenue in Q2, its operating profit fell by 34.4% due to high fuel and exchange rate pressures. Low-cost carriers like Jeju Air have also reported widening operating losses.