Flight International online news 12:00GMT: British Airways is to increase its fuel surcharge on long-haul flights as a result of further rises in the price of oil.
From 12 September, long-haul fuel surcharge on tickets sold and issued in the UK will increase from £24 per sector to £30 per sector (£60 return trip). It is the fifth increase in the surcharge in 18 months.
The UK flag carrier says: "Our fuel costs remain a real burden. The price of oil hit a record high of just over $70 a barrel in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina."
According to BA, its fuel bill now totals around £1.6 billion and is the company’s second largest cost after employee costs. “It now costs almost 400% more than it did in December 2001 to fill up a plane," says the company.
"We believe that it is better to be transparent with our customers about the price of fuel by showing the level of fuel surcharge they are paying rather than hide the costs by raising fares behind the scenes."
The shorthaul fuel surcharge will remain unchanged at £8 per sector (£16 a return trip).
ROSS BENTLEY/LONDON
Source: Airline Business
