DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Airlines are jumping the bandwagon and announcing an increase in fuel surcharges.
Taking a cue from Thai Airways, Emirates airline said Monday it plans to add a fuel surcharge on tickets. The award-winning airline will start applying additional fuel surcharges on tickets issued in Dubai, effective Sept. 14.
"In order to minimize and delay the need to increase the fuel surcharges, Emirates has spared no effort to offset the negative impact of the huge escalation in jet fuel prices through stringent cost-containment measures across its operations," the airline said in a statement.
"These measures, though effective, have proved insufficient, leaving us no alternative but to revise the fuel surcharges."
Cathay Pacific also raised its fuel surcharge following the sharp increase in oil prices and the consequent rise of jet fuel prices.
The airline's previous revision on fuel surcharge took place Aug. 1.
"We regularly review the impact of increase in fuel prices and the fuel surcharge which is already in place will be reviewed again this month," James Evans, the airline's country manager for the United Arab Emirates and Oman, told Khajeej Times.
Several other airlines are expected to join price hike bandwagon.
"To date, Gulf Air has worked hard to minimize the impact of the cost of fuel on the total cost of travel to the customer," Gulf Air President and Chief Executive James Hogan.
"Most of the cost has been borne by the airline, which has mitigated its exposure to fuel by implementing cost saving initiatives across the airline. However, given the unprecedented price of oil, it is necessary to take further measures including the imposition of a fuel surcharge to recover some of this expenditure."
British Airways is also keeping a close eye on fuel prices and may well join other airlines in increasing its fuel surcharge.
"We keep the price of fuel under constant review and are monitoring the situation. We will adjust surcharge levels where and when we feel it is appropriate to do so," Deborah Frampton, British Airways' Manager for the UAE, said.
