Quick summary
Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways will increase fuel surcharges on international flights from May 1, 2026, nearly doubling costs on North America and Europe routes. JAL’s surcharge rises from 29,000 yen ($190) to 56,000 yen ($365) one-way; ANA increases from 31,900 yen to 56,000 yen ($365). The increase applies to all bookings made from May 1 through June 30, 2026, including award tickets redeemed through JAL Mileage Bank, ANA Mileage Club, and partner programs.
Travelers booking before April 30 lock current surcharge rates. South Korea routes see surcharges more than double.
Breaking news announced on April 21, 2026, by JAL and ANA creates an urgent booking deadline — within 10 days, creating an urgent booking deadline for travelers to Japan. Middle East tensions have driven aviation fuel prices sharply higher, forcing both carriers to pass costs directly to passengers starting next month.
The surcharge increase was originally scheduled for June but has been moved forward to May 1. A round-trip ticket from Los Angeles to Tokyo will incur an additional $340–370 in surcharges compared to April bookings — the fuel component alone jumps from roughly $360 to $700 per passenger.
The increase affects all international flights to and from Japan, including codeshare services operated with partner airlines. Award ticket redemptions face identical surcharge hikes. Travelers departing from North America, Europe, and South Korea face the sharpest impact, while competing US carriers — United, American, Delta — have not announced matching increases.
How the surcharge increase breaks down by route
JAL’s fuel surcharge on Japan–North America routes rises from 29,000 yen to 56,000 yen per ticket, an increase of 93%. ANA’s surcharge climbs from 31,900 yen to 56,000 yen, a similar percentage jump. In dollar terms, passengers traveling one-way between Japan and North America currently pay the equivalent of about $180 to $190 in fuel surcharges; from May 1, that figure rises to roughly $350 to $365.
European routes see identical increases — both carriers will charge 56,000 yen on Japan–Europe flights. South Korea routes experience surcharges more than doubling, though exact yen amounts for these shorter routes were not disclosed in the official announcement.
The revised rates apply to all international services to and from Japan, including codeshare flights operated with partner airlines. Travelers redeeming miles through programs such as JAL Mileage Bank, ANA Mileage Club, Aeroplan, or Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan will still be required to pay the higher surcharges. Fuel surcharges are collected as cash at booking, regardless of whether the ticket is purchased with miles or cash.
| Route | Current surcharge | New surcharge | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan–North America (JAL) | 29,000 yen ($190) | 56,000 yen ($365) | +93% |
| Japan–North America (ANA) | 31,900 yen ($190) | 56,000 yen ($365) | +76% |
| Japan–Europe (both carriers) | 29,000–31,900 yen | 56,000 yen ($365) | +76–93% |
| Japan–South Korea | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | More than doubles |
Both carriers are also expanding their fuel surcharge frameworks, increasing the number of pricing tiers from 15 to 18. Under the revised system, surcharges on North American routes could rise as high as 59,000 yen, though for May and June bookings they will be set at the second-highest tier in light of government support measures. The Japanese government has provided subsidies to ease the burden, but the new levels rank among the highest seen in recent years.
Travelers planning trips to Japan can explore why flights to Asia have become more expensive in 2026, including fuel cost pressures and geopolitical factors driving surcharge increases across multiple carriers.
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What competing carriers are doing
United Airlines operates five weekly flights from San Francisco to Tokyo Narita using the 787-10, American Airlines runs three weekly services from Los Angeles to Narita with the 787-9, and Delta Air Lines flies twice weekly from Detroit to Narita on the 767-400ER. None of these carriers have announced fuel surcharge increases for May or June.
This creates a significant pricing advantage for US carriers on Japan routes through at least June 30. A family of four booking Los Angeles–Tokyo in May will pay an additional $1,360–1,480 in surcharges on JAL or ANA compared to April bookings, while the same family booking on American Airlines faces no surcharge increase.
JAL and ANA last implemented significant fuel surcharge adjustments in 2022 during post-COVID recovery and elevated oil prices. In that cycle, surcharges peaked at approximately $200–220 one-way before gradually declining through 2023–2024. The current May 2026 increase to $350–365 represents the highest surcharge level in recent carrier history, exceeding 2022 peaks by 60–70%.
The increased charges are currently scheduled to remain in place until June 30, 2026. Should fuel and insurance costs decline, surcharges may be adjusted downward in subsequent months. This follows a broader industry pattern — ten airlines added fuel surcharges ranging from $50 to $800 in March 2026 after jet fuel prices doubled from late February levels.
What to do if you’re booking Japan travel
The surcharge increase creates a hard deadline — bookings made before April 30 lock current surcharge rates, while bookings from May 1 onward incur the higher fees.
- If you have an existing JAL or ANA booking for May–June 2026: Contact the airline immediately (JAL: 1-800-525-3663, ANA: 1-800-235-9262) to confirm the surcharge amount applied at booking. If booked before April 21, you are locked into current surcharges. If booked after April 21, you will pay new surcharges — consider rebooking on United, American, or Delta to avoid the increase.
- If you are planning a new trip to Japan for May–June: Book before April 30, 2026 on JAL or ANA to lock current surcharges ($180–190 one-way). Alternatively, book United SFO–NRT, American LAX–NRT, or Delta DTW–NRT to avoid surcharge increases entirely.
- If you hold JAL Mileage Bank or ANA Mileage Club miles: Redeem before May 1 to avoid higher surcharges on award tickets. If redeeming after May 1, budget an additional $350–370 per round-trip in surcharges. Partner program members (Aeroplan, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan) face identical surcharge increases on JAL/ANA awards — consider redeeming on non-Japanese carriers instead.
- If you’re flexible on dates: Consider delaying Japan travel until July 2026 or later. The surcharge increase is temporary and scheduled to end June 30, though extension is possible if fuel costs remain elevated.
Watch: JAL and ANA surcharge extension announcements by mid-June 2026 — if surcharges remain beyond June 30, this signals sustained fuel cost pressure and likely extension into Q3 2026.
Questions? Answers.
Do fuel surcharges apply to award tickets booked with miles?
Yes. Fuel surcharges are collected as cash regardless of whether you book with miles or pay cash for the ticket. A JAL business-class award that previously cost 58,000 yen ($380) in surcharges will cost 112,000 yen ($730) starting May 1. This applies to all frequent flyer programs redeeming on JAL or ANA flights, including partner programs like Aeroplan and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan.
Can I get a refund if I booked before the surcharge increase was announced?
No. Fuel surcharges are ancillary fees set by carriers and are not covered under EU261/2004 or US DOT passenger compensation regulations. Travelers with existing JAL or ANA bookings for May–June 2026 have no statutory right to surcharge refunds. However, some travel insurance policies may cover surcharge increases if booked before April 21 — check your policy terms.
Will United, American, or Delta match JAL and ANA’s surcharge increases?
As of April 21, 2026, no US carriers have announced matching surcharge increases for Japan routes. United operates 5× weekly SFO–NRT, American runs 3× weekly LAX–NRT, and Delta flies 2× weekly DTW–NRT — all without surcharge increases. This creates a temporary pricing advantage for US carriers through at least June 30.
What happens if fuel prices drop before June 30?
JAL and ANA have stated that surcharges may be adjusted downward if fuel and insurance costs decline. The carriers review surcharge levels monthly based on fuel market conditions. If Middle East tensions ease and jet fuel prices stabilize, surcharges could be reduced before the scheduled June 30 end date.
