British
Airways on Tuesday announced it will raise its fuel surcharge on long-haul
flights by 10 pounds (US$16) per sector, effective Dec. 16. Revised long-haul
surcharges will range from 63 pounds for economy-class flights of less than
nine hours to 108 pounds (US$171) for first-class and business-class flights of
more than nine hours. Surcharges for short-haul flights were not affected.
BA
blamed the hike on "the substantial recent increase in the price of oil."
Prices per barrel have moved up to $90 from $72 in August. Other airlines this
month have increased their fuel surcharges, including All Nippon Airways and Singapore Airlines. Last month, Lufthansa and several Chinese carriers did likewise.
This
is the third increase in the cost of flying for many United Kingdom-based
travelers to emerge during the past six weeks. On Nov. 1, the U.K. government
increased its Air Passenger Duty departure tax by up to 55 percent, taking it
to 60 pounds for economy passengers and 120 pounds for premium passengers flying
to the United States. This month, BA announced it would introduce a payment fee surcharge of 4.50 pounds for bookings made through travel agents, effective March
1, 2011.