The fuel surcharge imposed on domestic flights in South Korea will be lowered to zero for the first time due to protracted low global oil prices, airline companies said Thursday.

According to Korean Air Lines Co. and Asiana Airlines Inc., the country's two major flag carriers, the fuel surcharge that customers have to pay when using domestic flights will be cut to zero next month from the current 1,100 won ($0.91).

It marks the first time that customers will not pay any surcharge on domestic flights since the system was first introduced in 2009.

The surcharge system is intended to allow air carriers to adjust extra fees for international and domestic routes each month in tandem with changes in the average price of fuel traded via Singapore's spot market.

The surcharge is imposed when the average price is 120 cents per gallon or higher. As of January, it traded at 113.5 cents per gallon.

The surcharge for international flights has been zero for five straight months.  (Yonhap)