Singapore Airlines increases fuel surcharge

Singapore Airlines has become the latest in a string of major carriers to make their passengers pay more as part of an increase to the fuel surcharge. The hike will come into effect early next week and those travelling from Singapore on long-haul routes to either Canada or the United States will end up paying $150 on top of the basic airfare. This represents a $20 hike each way. Those travelling on short or medium-haul routes within southeast Asia, however, will only have to pay $5 more each way, as the fuel surcharge increases from $30 to $35. Passengers on all other routes-including those from Singapore to Europe-will end up paying an additional $15 each way, as the surcharge rises from $80 to $95.

Singapore Airlines pointed out that it had no choice but to raise the fuel surcharge, due to the fact that the price of jet fuel now exceeds $140 per barrel. The carrier also noted that even though the surcharge has been hiked by as much as $20 on some long-haul routes, even this does not offer full compensation for the burden of extra operating costs that the airline must shoulder. Oil prices are now almost $20 more expensive than they were only four months ago, at the beginning of the year, and analysts believe that the summer months will see more dramatic increases. Nearly all airlines that have introduced fuel surcharge increases warned that further hikes may be on the way, as they continue to closely monitor the price of oil.

www.singaporeair.com