Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways impose record fuel surcharges
Japanese carriers JAL and ANA will impose fuel surcharges of €350 per flight segment on routes between Japan and Europe this summer, adding approximately €700 to round-trip fares for passengers flying from Portugal. The surcharges take effect July 1 through August 31, 2026.
Why This Matters for Portugal Travelers
The timing directly impacts Portuguese families planning summer holidays. The surcharges apply during peak vacation season when most travelers book trips to Japan. For a family of four traveling round-trip from Lisbon to Tokyo, the surcharge alone adds €2,800 to ticket costs.
EU consumer protection rules prohibit airlines from retroactively adding fees to tickets already issued before July 1, so travelers who booked earlier are protected. However, those purchasing tickets after July 1 for summer travel will face the new charges.
The Root Cause: Middle East Fuel Costs
The surcharges stem from escalating fuel prices. A conflict that intensified in late February 2026 disrupted Middle Eastern oil supply routes, pushing aviation kerosene prices sharply higher. Asia imports most of its petroleum from Middle Eastern suppliers, making carriers like JAL and ANA particularly vulnerable to price volatility.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), fuel now accounts for approximately 30% of airline operating costs, making even modest price swings significant for both carriers and passengers.
Government Support Limits the Impact
The Japanese government has deployed subsidies to cap the surcharges. Without intervention, airlines indicated surcharges would exceed the current €350 limit. This fiscal relief helps shield middle-class households from prohibitively expensive international fares.
How Surcharges Are Calculated
JAL and ANA recalculate fuel surcharges every two months using Singapore kerosene prices and prevailing exchange rates. The surcharge structure is tiered by route distance. Long-haul European routes carry the maximum charge, while shorter routes to nearby Asian destinations have lower fees.
Limited Options for Travelers
Passengers from Portugal have few ways to avoid the surcharge entirely. Most summer inventory was booked months ago. Travelers could consider alternative routings through European hubs like Helsinki, Amsterdam, or Paris using European carriers, though these airlines face identical fuel cost pressures.
For Portuguese residents with flexible schedules, delaying travel to September might offer relief under a new surcharge calculation period, though this sacrifices peak season travel experiences.
