Fuel Surcharge Hike Pushes Short Haul Travel for Short Chuseok Holiday
Creatrip Team
18 days ago
International fuel surcharges rose in September after four months of decline, adding big costs especially on long-haul routes. Airlines raised surcharges for West Europe and U.S. West routes by about ₩99,900 one-way (up to ~₩199,800 roundtrip), and similar jumps hit U.S. East routes. While travelers who already booked Chuseok (Korean harvest festival) trips largely stayed committed, new long-haul bookings slowed as passengers shifted toward nearer, cheaper options. This year’s Chuseok holiday is only four days long, encouraging short trips; travel agencies report 89% of reservations are for short-haul destinations like China, Japan and Southeast Asia, with Japan notably increasing its share. Industry sources warn the surcharge rise may more heavily impact the autumn travel season and future long-haul demand, even if immediate Chuseok cancellations remain limited.
