International Fuel Surcharge Drops 8 Tiers... Overseas Flight Bookings Surge 170%

The effect of July's reduction in international fuel prices has been immediate, with overseas flight bookings surging 170% on the first day the new fuel surcharges were applied compared to the previous day. The international fuel surcharge was adjusted from the existing 27 tiers down to 19 tiers, a decrease of 8 tiers, representing a maximum reduction of 25% depending on the route. According to travel platform Nol Universe, the number of overseas flight bookings from the 1st to the 7th increased by 135% compared to the same period last month and 137% from the previous week.

Fukuoka, Tokyo, and Osaka ranked 1st to 3rd in booking numbers, followed by Da Nang and Nha Trang in 4th and 5th place. Japan, which accounted for 53.7% of all overseas flight bookings in June, saw its share shrink to 43.4% in the first week of this month. Conversely, Vietnam expanded from 14.9% to 17.3%, Thailand from 4.5% to 6.5%, and the U.S. from 2.1% to 3.6%.

Travel platforms are also strengthening their marketing efforts. Nol Universe is issuing discount coupon packs for flights on a first-come, first-served basis every day throughout July and presenting weekly special promotions in collaboration with various airlines. They have also prepared discount coupons for popular routes to Japan, China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia, as well as additional discounts for overseas accommodations. Modo Tour is running a promotion in conjunction with the Guam Visitors Bureau for customers booking Guam air-and-hotel packages departing from July to September, offering an instant discount of 100,000 won per person to the first 1,000 applicants.

An industry official stated that the drop in fuel surcharges has lowered price burdens, and with the summer vacation season overlapping, demand for overseas travel continues to grow.