Fuel surcharges for flights to rise for 4th time this year

• By Shelley Shan / Staff reporter

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Fuel surcharges for short-haul and long-haul international flights are to rise on Sunday for the fourth time this year after the price for international aviation fuel rose to US$183.09 per barrel this month, the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) said yesterday.

Fuel surcharges for short-haul routes would rise to US$40 from US$37.50, while surcharges for long-haul routes would increase to US$104 from US$97.50, the agency said in a statement.

The CAA defines short-haul routes as destinations in Asia, excluding India and the Middle East, while long-haul routes include India, the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Africa, Oceania and Antarctica.

Aircraft are parked at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in an undated photograph.

Photo: Huang Yi-ching, Taipei Times

The higher fuel surcharges for international passenger flights followed an announcement earlier yesterday by state-owned oil refiner CPC Corp, Taiwan that its reference price for international aviation fuel rose to US$183.09 per barrel this month, up from US$177.89 per barrel last month, the CAA said.

CPC updates its international aviation fuel prices on the first business day of a month.

In July, fuel surcharges were US$27.50 for short-haul routes and US$71.50 for long-haul routes. They rose to US$30 and US$78 in August, US$32.50 and US$84.50 in September, and US$37.50 and US$97.50 last month respectively.

Cola Tours vice president of marketing Lin Kuan-hsien (林冠賢) said travel package prices have risen as conflicts in the Middle East and Europe drive increases in oil prices.

However, travelers remain willing to pay more for trips offering distinctive experiences, Lin said.

Package tours to Japan have increased by NT$1,000 to NT$3,000, while those to Europe have risen by about NT$1,000 to NT$5,000, depending on the itinerary, he said.

Travel agencies can still attract customers by packaging trips around diverse themes and distinctive experiences, Lin said, adding that travelers are not solely concerned about prices, but also place greater emphasis on the value an itinerary offers.