JAL and ANA Fuel Surcharge 2026: Japan’s Flag Carriers Double Surcharges From May

Last updated: Apr 21, 2026

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways will roughly double their international fuel surcharges from 1 May 2026.

Here’s exactly what’s changing at JAL and ANA, how much more you’ll pay by route, and what it means if you were planning to use miles.

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How much more you’ll pay by route

The newly expanded fuel surcharge system applies to tickets issued between 1 May and 30 June 2026, according to a Jiji Press report carried by Nippon.com.

Here’s how the headline surcharges compare on tickets issued in Japan:

Japan–North America / Europe / Middle East / Oceania: ANA ¥31,900 → ¥56,000, while JAL: ¥29,000 → ¥56,000. That’s an extra ¥24,100–27,000 per one-way segment.
Japan–Hawaii / India / Indonesia: ANA currently ¥20,400; JAL Zone H ¥18,500. Both expected to rise sharply under the new tier.
Japan–Thailand / Singapore / Malaysia: ANA currently ¥16,300; JAL Zone H ¥15,500.
Japan–Hong Kong / Taiwan / China: ANA currently ¥9,400; JAL Zone H ¥7,400.
Japan–South Korea: ANA currently ¥3,300, rising to ¥6,700 from May; JAL currently ¥3,000, rising to ¥6,500 from May (per ANA’s surcharge page and JAL’s 20 April press release).

For a return trip to Los Angeles, New York or London, that means roughly ¥112,000 (about US$740) in fuel surcharge alone, on top of base fare and taxes.

The ANA long-haul rate for tickets issued outside Japan is also adjusting — the February–March 2026 benchmark is currently US$142, €132 or £111 per segment for flights to Europe, North America, the Middle East and Oceania, according to ANA’s official surcharge page.

What this means for JMB and AMC award ticket holders

Fuel surcharges apply to both JAL Mileage Bank (JMB) and ANA Mileage Club (AMC) award tickets, so the same ¥56,000 long-haul levy will land on your miles redemption too.

ANA’s terms state clearly that the fuel surcharge “shall apply on AMC award tickets as well”, and its international awards page notes a minimum US$70 cash component on every award ticket to cover taxes, passenger facility charges and fuel surcharges.

A round-trip Tokyo–San Francisco business-class award on ANA or JAL from May will therefore cost the same miles as before, but roughly ¥112,000 more in cash surcharges alone.

If you were sitting on a big JMB or AMC balance and planning to burn miles this year, ticketing before 1 May locks in today’s lower surcharge — assuming award space exists on your dates.

How to manage the cost

The ¥56,000 ceiling only applies to tickets issued between 1 May and 30 June 2026.

Anything issued earlier still uses the current February–March benchmark, per the schedule on JAL’s and ANA’s surcharge pages.

If you’re flexible, there are a few ways to soften the impact:

Compare fares now on Wego. Run live price checks on the Wego flight tracker for your exact dates — the all-in fare may still move up over the coming weeks.
Consider alternative Asian carriers. Korean Air, Asiana, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific all set their own surcharge schedules, and some may still be at lower tiers for May–June departures.
Book via a third country where possible. ANA’s overseas-origin surcharges are billed in USD, EUR or GBP at levels set in February and may move on a different cycle than the Japan-origin yen tariffs.
Use miles for partner segments. Redeeming ANA miles on a Star Alliance partner that doesn’t add a fuel surcharge — or JAL miles on oneworld partners with lower levies — can cut the cash portion significantly.
Watch the next review window. JAL and ANA will reset surcharges again in late June for July–August tickets, based on February–March fuel prices; if the market softens, the ceiling may come back down.

For anyone booking flights to Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya or Fukuoka, treat the fuel surcharge as a variable line item — not a fixed tax — when comparing offers across carriers.

FAQ

When exactly does the new JAL and ANA fuel surcharge take effect?

From 1 May 2026. The higher surcharge applies to tickets issued in Japan between 1 May and 30 June 2026 for international travel. Tickets issued before 1 May remain at the February–March 2026 rates.

Does the fuel surcharge apply to JMB and AMC award tickets?

Yes. Both JAL Mileage Bank and ANA Mileage Club award tickets are subject to the full fuel surcharge, which is charged in cash alongside taxes and fees on top of the miles required.

Can I get a refund if the fuel surcharge drops after I buy?

Not automatically. ANA’s conditions state that the balance is not adjusted if the ticket is not changed. If you reissue a wholly unused ticket, the new surcharge applies; partially used tickets are not adjusted.

Will the surcharge go up again after June?

It depends on February–March fuel prices. The July–August tier will be announced in late June based on the Singapore kerosene average during that window. With the new 18-tier system, the Japan–North America surcharge can legally reach ¥59,000 per segment.

Why did JAL and ANA bring the increase forward from June to May?

Because fuel prices rose faster than their usual calculation window could absorb. Japanese carriers normally set surcharges using fuel prices from three to four months earlier, but the March spike from the US-Iran conflict forced both airlines to move the hike up by one month, according to Asahi Shimbun reporting cited by Seoul Economic Daily.

Sources

Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.