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As a recent drop in the price of oil pulls down international airfares, the round-trip ticket for long-distance flights, including those to the U.S. and Europe, is expected to drop by at least W240,000 from January next year. Flights to Southeast Asia, including Bangkok and Beijing, will be more than W100,000 cheaper.
The airline industry announced Monday that the oil surcharge for long-distance international round-trip flights should decrease by W240,500 to 133,700 by early next year. Surcharges for shorter distances will drop by W106,200 to 58,800.
If oil maintains its current price of 50 dollars a barrel until the end of this month, the surcharge will drop from the current 16th level to the 6th level by this coming January or February, says the airline industry. The surcharge for early next year will be determined based on the current fuel price.
Oil surcharges, which are linked to the price of jet fuel, play a big role in determining airfares.
Asiana Airlines expects the round-trip ticket between Incheon and Paris will drop from the current W2.10 million to 1.86 million in January or February next year, while flights between Incheon and Beijing will decrease from W638,500 to 531,500. As the peak season premium is added to popular routes between Incheon and Los Angeles, and Incheon and Bangkok at the beginning and end of a year, flights will become cheaper in early January, when the oil surcharge drops, than in late December. Korean Air will also adjust its fares to the same level as Asiana Airlines.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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