Flight deals thanks to cheaper oil

International passengers on Korean airlines will get a break on tickets issued in September, thanks to steadily declining oil prices.

The carriers will eliminate fuel surcharges on tickets on all international routes, the aviation industry said on Monday.

This is the first time in six years the fuel surcharges have been exempted. There was no fuel surcharge for six straight months from March 2009.

August’s fuel surcharges are nearly $15 for flight routes to North and South Americas, Europe and Africa, and $14 for routes to the Middle East and Oceania. The surcharge for tickets to Southeast Asia was priced at $6; $5 to China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and some parts of Russia; and $3 to Japan and some parts of China.

As well as international tickets, the surcharge for domestic routes is also lowered to 2,200 won ($1.86), from the current 3,300 won.

The fuel surcharge waiver is effective as long as the ticket is issued within September, regardless of when the flight is actually taken. The waiver is effective for all tickets, including free flights issued by redeeming air miles.

The nation’s two largest carriers Korean Air and Asiana Airlines have rules to receive the fuel surcharge when the international price of jet fuel is higher than $1.50 per gallon. The average price of jet fuel in the Singapore market was around $1.46 from July 16 to Aug. 15.

The carriers determine next month’s surcharge every month considering the current month’s average oil price.

After the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decided not to reduce production last November, global oil prices steadily dropped to $49.43 per barrel of Dubai crude oil as of last Friday.

BY KIM JI-YOON [kim.jiyoon@joongang.co.kr]