Japan Airlines and ANA Are Doubling Fuel Surcharges on May 1 — What You Should Know

Updated: April 20, 2026, 2:45pm CDT

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Fuel Surcharges Are Nearly Doubling for North America Routes
Final Thoughts

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If you’ve got Japan on your 2026 travel list, there’s a small but important deadline coming up.

The 2 biggest airlines in the country — Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways — are temporarily raising fuel surcharges to offset rising fuel costs, and the increases are significant. The good news: There’s still a short window to lock in the current, lower pricing.

Here’s what you need to know.

Fuel Surcharges Are Nearly Doubling for North America Routes

Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) have announced that starting May 1, 2026, fuel surcharges on flights between Japan and North America (the U.S., Canada, and Mexico) will jump sharply.

Right now, travelers are paying roughly $180 one-way in fuel surcharges. Beginning in May, that number climbs to about $350 one-way — almost double.

This increase is attributed to rising aviation fuel costs and higher insurance expenses. While the Japanese government has stepped in with subsidies to soften the blow, these are still among the highest surcharges we’ve seen.

Japan Airlines a350 1000 business class seat wide — Fuel surcharges on JAL and ANA are nearly doubling starting May 1, but the spike is temporary. Image Credit: Ehsan Haque

As a real-world example, consider an ANA business-class award ticket from the U.S. to Tokyo on JAL:

Current surcharge: 29,000 yen (about $190)
Starting May 1: 56,000 yen (about $365)

That’s a noticeable jump — especially for award travelers who are used to keeping out-of-pocket costs low. The updated surcharges apply to all international flights to/from Japan, including codeshare flights operated by partner airlines.

One important detail, though: This pricing is temporary and currently scheduled to run through June 30, 2026. If fuel and insurance costs ease, there’s a chance surcharges could return to more modest levels later on.

Bottom Line:

No matter how you book — whether it’s through partner programs like Aeroplan or Alaska’s Atmos Rewards or directly with JAL Mileage Bank or ANA Mileage Club — you’ll still be on the hook for the higher surcharges starting May 1. If Japan is on your radar, it’s worth booking before April 30 to lock in the lower rates.

Final Thoughts

Fuel surcharges have increased across the aviation sector, forcing airlines to either absorb the costs or pass them on to travelers through higher fees.

Now, with JAL and ANA nearly doubling surcharges starting May 1, making your booking now could save you a few hundred dollars. The silver lining is that it’s temporary, but locking in your ticket now means paying less out of pocket without hoping for future improvements.