BA raises fuel surcharges

British Airways announced today it was increasing its fuel surcharge on both short-haul and long-haul flight tickets due to rising oil prices.

From October 14, the long-haul surcharge on all UK bookings will increase from £6 (€8.67) one way to £10 (€14.4), while the surcharge on short-haul flights will rise from £2.50 (€3.61) one way to £4 (€5.78).

The move follows rises in surcharges announced earlier this week by major carriers Air France and Lufthansa.

BA’s commercial director Martin George said: “This is not a decision we have taken lightly but, as other airlines are finding, the continuing rise in fuel prices sadly makes these increases inevitable.”

It was on May 13 that BA first introduced a £2.50 (€3.61) per sector surcharge on all flights booked in the UK.

On August 11, the airline increased the surcharge for long-haul flights booked in the UK to £6 (€8.67) per sector. Short-haul remained at £2.50 (€3.61).

BA’s overall fuel costs for the year are estimated to be some £1.1bn (€1.59bn).