Narita Airport Bustles as Vacationers Rush to Travel Overseas before Fuel Surcharge Hike

The Yomiuri Shimbun

13:46 JST, April 27, 2026

NARITA, Chiba — Congestion at Narita Airport in Chiba Prefecture reached a peak on Sunday as travelers left Japan to spend the Golden Week holiday period abroad.

With crude oil prices soaring due to the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, fuel surcharges added to international airfares by airline companies will be raised significantly for tickets issued in May and later. Possibly due to travelers rushing to fly at the last minute before the surcharges go up, the departure lobby was bustling with families.

According to Narita International Airport Corp., the number of passengers traveling through the airport from April 24 to May 10 is expected to reach 1,594,000, a 2% increase from the same period last year. Sunday was expected to be the peak for departures, with an estimated 56,900 people flying out, and arrivals or returnees are forecast to peak at 53,300 on May 6.

“I’m a little concerned about the situation in Iran, but I want to enjoy making memories,” said one 36-year-old office worker from Chuo Ward, Tokyo, who was set to visit Spain with family.