À̹ÌÁö È®´ë Korean airlines will up the extra charge for fuel, doubling the rate for long-haul flight, in line with the strengthening in fuel prices.
Korea¡¯s full-service carriers Korean Air Lines Co. and Asiana Airlines Inc. will raise respective maximum surcharges for flying long distance to 61,220 won ($54.12) and 51,800 won from current 34,800 won, according to industry sources on Tuesday. They become reflected from the tickets sold from April.
The move follows the jump in jet fuel prices. Airlines can charge extra for fuel if the average jet fuel prices on the Singapore spot market rise over 150 cents ($1.50) per gallon. The average price of jet fuel stood at 900.09 cents from Feb. 15 to Mar. 15, the base period for April fuel surcharge calculation.
Fuel surcharges are imposed depending on air travel distance – higher fuel surcharge for longer routes and vice versa for shorter distance flight. Korean Air Lines charges different fuel surcharges in a scale of 10, with the lowest for travel distance below 500 miles to highest for flying more than 10,000 miles. Its longest route is from Incheon to Atlanta, the U.S.
Asiana Airline charges extra for fuel under 9-level scale with the additional fees ranging from 9,100 won to 51,800 won, depending on travel distance.
Starting April, fuel surcharge for domestic flights will rise to 4,400 won from current 3,300 won. Fuel surcharge for domestic flights are imposed if the average jet fuel prices on the Singapore spot market rise over 120 cents in base period.
By Chun Gyung-woon and Cho Jeehyun
[¨Ï Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]