On March 19, the JAL Group requested approval from the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT), to reduce the fuel surcharge placed on nearly all international passenger tickets issued on or after May 1, 2007.

After an assessment of the outlook JAL has decided to lower the fuel surcharge from May 1 as follows. Based on ticket sales in Japan, the new surcharges range from 1,400 yen on a Japan-Korea ticket (down from 1,700 yen) to 14,500 yen on a Japan-Brazil ticket (down from 15,500 yen). The surcharge on a Japan-Europe ticket or a Japan-North America ticket will be 11,000 yen, down from 12,000 yen. (See chart below).

This is the third fuel surcharge reduction this year. The first was when JAL reduced the fuel surcharge placed on all international passenger tickets issued on or after January 1, 2007. The second surcharge reduction was filed on February 13, to become effective from April 1. This third reduction has been made possible by the fact that the price of Singapore kerosene stayed below the benchmark of US$75.00 per barrel for 30 consecutive working days.

Note: Applicable to all international passenger tickets issued on or after May 1, 2007.

JAL originally introduced the fuel surcharge on international tickets in February 2005 in response to unprecedented rises in the cost of fuel. The surcharge will be reduced again once the price of Singapore kerosene stays below the benchmark of US$70.00 per barrel for 30 consecutive working days. The surcharge will be progressively reduced as the price of fuel decreases, and will be cancelled completely when the price of Singapore kerosene stays below the benchmark of US$45.00 per barrel for 30 consecutive working days.

• The surcharge applies to flights operated by Japan Airlines and its international subsidiaries JALways & Japan Asia Airways including JAL code-share flights operated by other airlines.
• The same amounts apply to adult/child/infant fares. The surcharges also apply to frequent flyer program international award tickets issued to members of the JAL Mileage Bank.
• In the case of refunds, the fuel surcharge will be refunded in full and no cancellation or refund charge will be applied.
• The fuel surcharge change is subject to government approval.