國泰航空因中東緊張局勢將燃油附加費調升多達41%

Airline says higher passenger and cargo fuel surcharges will take effect on August 1, following brief period of declines Cathay Pacific Airways will raise fuel surcharges by up to 41 per cent on most passenger flights from August. Photo: May Tse Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways will raise fuel surcharges by up to 41 per cent on most passenger flights from August, citing escalating tensions in the Middle East. The airline said on Friday that the higher passenger and cargo fuel surcharges would take effect on August 1, following a brief period of declines after prices peaked in April. “This is the first increase to passenger and cargo fuel surcharges since April, and levels remain below their peak in that month,” Cathay Pacific said. Citing data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) , Cathay noted that the global average jet fuel price rose to US$149.40 per barrel for the week ending July 16, up from US$127.06 the previous week and US$119.13 in the week ending July 3. According to the airline, fuel surcharges on flights between Hong Kong and the South Asian subcontinent will experience the steepest rise, jumping by 41.3 per cent from HK$448 (US$57) to HK$633. Surcharges on routes between Hong Kong and mainland China will increase by 20 per cent. For flights departing from the city to the mainland, the cost will rise from HK$165 to HK$198, while the surcharge for routes going in the opposite direction would increase from 135 yuan (US$19.90) to 162 yuan. Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated after a June ceasefire collapsed. Photo: AFP For long-haul flights between the city and the South West Pacific, North America, Europe, the Middle East or Africa, the surcharge will rise by about 41.1 per cent, going from HK$965 to HK$1,362. Charges for other routes will also rise by 40.7 per cent to HK$339. Meanwhile, cargo flights are for an even bigger increase. The surcharge for short-haul flights will jump from HK$1.80 per kilogram to HK$2.80 – an increase of 55.6 per cent, while the extra cost for medium- and long-haul flights will rise by about 50 and 50.7 per cent, respectively. Cathay said there had been multiple reductions in fuel surcharges since May as jet fuel prices eased, demonstrating the mechanism’s responsiveness to both downward and upward price movements. “We continue to review and revise fuel surcharges every two weeks,” the airline said. Unhandled type: inline-plus-widget {"type":"inline-plus-widget"} Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated this month after a June ceasefire collapsed. The US has carried out a series of air strikes on Iran, while the Strait of Hormuz has been nearly closed, pushing up global oil prices.