The fuel surcharge for international airline tickets departing from Korea will rise by seven levels in September 2026 compared with August. Korean Air and Asiana Airlines will apply level 21 to tickets issued in September.
Key Changes
The international fuel surcharge level will increase from level 14 in August 2026 to level 21 in September. Accordingly, Korean Air’s surcharge for international flights departing Korea will range from ₩48,000 to ₩354,000 one way, depending on route distance.
The September fuel surcharge is a separately charged item, not part of the ticket’s total base fare.
Current Status
For long-haul routes to the eastern United States, including Incheon–New York, Korean Air’s fuel surcharge will rise from ₩259,200 one way in August to ₩354,000 in September—an increase of ₩94,800. Calculated as a round trip, the increase from the previous month is ₩189,600.
| Category | August 2026 | September 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Korean Air one-way fare surcharge on applicable long-haul routes, including Incheon–New York | ₩259,200 | ₩354,000 | Up ₩94,800 |
| Round-trip fuel surcharge on the same route | — | — | Up ₩189,600 from the previous month |
The September surcharge applies to tickets issued from September 1 through September 30, 2026. Fuel surcharges are determined by the ticket issuance date, not the travel date. If the amount changes after purchase by the time of travel, no additional charge or refund will be made.
Impact
Anyone planning to issue an international ticket for travel in September should check the actual surcharge charged by the airline and route distance. Fuel surcharges may vary by airline and route distance and are separate from the base fare, taxes, and exchange rates.
The calculation period confirmed for the September surcharge was July 16 through August 15, 2026. During this period, the average price of Singapore aviation fuel MOPS was 355.46 cents per gallon, higher than the 283.48 cents recorded during the calculation period for the August surcharge.
Next Checkpoint
When purchasing a September ticket, first check the airline- and route-specific fuel surcharge shown on the booking screen. In particular, the New York and other long-haul figures are examples based on the applicable Korean Air segment and should not be treated as amounts that apply identically to every airline and route.
The information was checked on August 31, 2026. Sources consulted:
- Newsis: https://nwww.newsis.com/view/NISX20260818_0003752525
- MoneyToday: https://www.mt.co.kr/industry/2026/08/18/2026081810260629645
- Maeil Business Newspaper: https://www.mk.co.kr/news/business/12130485