SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – Korean Air sharply raised its fuel surcharge for May, pushing fees on short- and long-haul routes to many times their pre–late February level and making air travel significantly more expensive.
Sharp jump in fuel surcharge announced for May
Korean Air announced that it would increase fuel surcharges again in May, in some cases to around seven times the level before the end of February. The airline used the period before the outbreak of the Iran war at the end of February as a reference point, stating that cost developments had accelerated markedly since then.
According to the carrier, the new surcharges would apply across both regional and intercontinental routes. The airline indicated that the increases reflected higher operating costs linked primarily to fuel.
Short-haul from Incheon: higher costs to Dalian and Fukuoka
For a one-way short-haul flight from Incheon International Airport to nearby cities such as Dalian in China or Fukuoka in Japan, the fuel surcharge was set to rise to about 75,000 won. Previously, this fee had been 10,500 won, meaning the surcharge on these routes increased several times over.
The higher surcharge came on top of the base fare and other taxes. As a result, even relatively short regional trips were expected to become noticeably more expensive for passengers.
Long-haul to the US: surcharges above 500,000 won
On long-haul routes from Incheon to major US cities such as New York, Dallas and Atlanta, the fuel surcharge was due to climb to around 564,000 won. In February, the corresponding figure had still been 76,500 won, underlining the scale of the cost increase.
The data highlighted how intercontinental journeys in particular would carry a much heavier fuel-related cost burden. For many travelers, this meant substantial additional expenses on top of already high long-haul ticket prices.
Ticket example: Economy Incheon–New York in May
According to the airline’s website, a one-way economy-class ticket on the Incheon–New York route in May cost about 1,650,900 won. The fuel surcharge was added as an extra cost component, potentially driving the final price for passengers even higher.
The example illustrated how the surcharge could form a significant share of the overall ticket price. Travelers planning transpacific flights were therefore likely to feel the impact directly in their travel budgets.
Millions of passengers affected by fee changes
Korean Air transported more than 16.5 million passengers in 2025, according to the available figures. Changes to fees and surcharges could therefore affect a large number of travelers, especially on heavily demanded international routes.
For frequent flyers and families, the cumulative effect of higher surcharges across multiple tickets and segments could be substantial. The airline’s broad international network meant that the new pricing would reach passengers in many regions.
Global trend: airlines react to rising costs
The report noted that not only Korean Air but airlines worldwide were currently facing rising costs. As countermeasures, carriers were introducing higher fuel surcharges, reducing flight frequencies and adding extra baggage fees to offset the pressure from higher oil prices.
These steps formed part of a broader industry trend of passing at least part of the cost increases on to passengers. The combination of fewer flights and higher ancillary charges pointed to a tougher environment for price-sensitive travelers.
Outlook: air travel likely to become more expensive
The developments suggested that passengers worldwide, including those in and traveling to Thailand, would have to expect higher airfares in the near future. A decisive factor cited was whether tensions in the Middle East eased or continued.
Prolonged instability was seen as a driver of elevated fuel prices and, in turn, airline costs. If the situation did not improve, further fare and surcharge increases could not be ruled out.
Reader perspectives on surcharges and transparency
The report also invited readers to share how strongly they were already feeling fuel surcharges and additional fees in their travel planning. It asked whether they would consider switching to other airlines or routes as a response.
Readers were encouraged to comment on whether they regarded such surcharges as understandable or believed airlines should handle the extra costs more transparently and differently. The discussion was aimed at gathering views on how carriers balanced cost pressures with customer expectations.