JAL Group said yesterday that it has asked to lower its fuel rates for international routes operated by Japan Airlines.

Under the proposed revision, the fuel surcharge for a ticket between Japan and Hawaii would decrease 85 percent to $20 from its current $135, set on January 1, 2009. The surcharge for flights within Hawaii and North America would decline from $6 to $1.

The company requested approval from the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to cut the surcharge placed on all international tickets issued between April 1, 2009, and June 30, 2009.

Based on JAL's new benchmark list for fiscal year 2009, surcharges would decrease by 75 percent to 92 percent compared to the prior three-month period.

The surcharge will be progressively reduced as the price of fuel decreases.

The surcharge charged for tickets issued from July to September 2009 will be reviewed based on the average price of fuel from February through April 2009.