Japan's two largest airlines are requesting a continuation of the current fuel surcharge on international airfares on passenger tickets issued through January 2010 that tack on $39 each way to flights to and from Hawai'i.

The global economy and swine flu fears had hit the Japanese travel market hard and prompted many to stay home. So tourism officials keep an eye on the fuel surcharge as another factor that could discourage visitors.

The current modest surcharge is not seen as much of a hurdle.

The JAL Group has requested approval from the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism citing recent increases in fuel prices.

The surcharges varied from as little as $3 to South Korea to $98 to Brazil.

The JAL surcharge is set to remain in effect from January through March 2010.

The fuel surcharge for international tickets issued was dropped between July 1, 2009, and Sept. 30, 2009, when the average price of Singapore kerosene (jet fuel) from February to April 2009 fell below the $60 U.S. per barrel benchmark.

The JAL increase tracks a similar move by Japan's second-largest air carrier, All Nippon Airways. But ANA announced a matching surcharge so far would apply through January 2010.

JAL originally introduced the fuel surcharge on international tickets in February 2005 in response to a rise in the cost of jet fuel.