JAL sets Nov-Dec 2026 fuel surcharge at Zone S, not Zone T

Japan Airlines and Japan Transocean Air said on Oct. 15, 2026 that the international fuel surcharge for tickets issued from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, 2026 will correspond to Zone S. The fuel price would normally have triggered Zone T.

The reason is a Japanese government subsidy under emergency Middle East mitigation measures. The basis is the August-September 2026 Singapore kerosene average of USD 159.19 per barrel, or JPY 25,089 at JPY 157.61 to the dollar.

Approval and scope

The level is subject to approval by Japan's transport ministry (MLIT), so it is not final. It applies to JAL-operated flights and to JAL-marketed codeshare flights. As of Oct. 16, 2026, that is the status; confirm on the JAL release.

The per-route amounts are in an image on the JAL page, and we could not read them in text. Check the JAL page for the figures. We are not guessing at amounts.

Points angle

Award tickets on JAL metal, whether booked with JAL Mileage Bank or a partner program such as AAdvantage or Alaska Atmos, may carry fuel surcharges depending on the program. Surcharges vary by program, and the ticket-issue date decides which zone applies.

What to do: If you are pricing a JAL award, check whether your program passes surcharges through and note the date the ticket will be issued, since Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 mark the zone window. Review the surcharge table on the JAL page directly, as of Oct. 16, 2026, before you book.

Sources

• https://press.jal.co.jp/en/release/202610/009766.html