British Airways has announced that rises in the price of oil mean the airline will increase the additional charge it makes to cover fuel costs.
The airline will increase its fuel surcharge by £20 on all return long-haul flights from this Thursday (December 16).
While shorthaul flights won’t be affected by the increase, passengers travelling the longest distances will be paying a fuel surcharge of between £76 and £108.
In a statement, BA said the move “reflects the substantial recent increase in the price of oil”.
Norman Gage, director of business travel at agency consortium Advantage Travel, said the rise was “inevitable”.
“We only have to look at the surge in prices at the petrol station, to anticipate that it’s going to be going up,” he said.
The change means passengers flying in economy (World Traveller) class will pay £76 on flights of more than nine hours and £63 on shorter flights.
World Traveller Plus passengers will pay £73 on long-haul flights of less than nine hours, and £94.50 on longer flights.
First and Club World flights of more than nine hours will incur a charge of £108, while for those of less than nine hours it will be £88.
Gage said fuel surcharges should be included in the price of a ticket on the GDS, as this would make fares more transparent.
“Airlines have refused to do this because it costs them money putting it into the GDS. It’s easier to do it as a fuel surcharge and raise it up and down,” he said.
“They’re breaking down and commoditising travel. They just keep splitting it out. I prefer the traditional way. A price of a ticket is all-inclusive. That way you know what you’re paying for and you don’t get stung with all the extras along the way. It’s all clear.”