BA fuel surcharges to rise again

British Airways said fuel costs were a real burden

British Airways is to increase fuel surcharges on long-haul tickets bought in the UK for the fifth time in the past 18 months.

The increase, taking effect from 12 September, means customers will pay a £30 charge for a one-way ticket - up from £24 - and £60 on a return fare.

BA said the move was "very regrettable" but said it had little choice as high oil prices had pushed up fuel costs.

Existing surcharges on short-haul flights will remain unaltered.

Fuel burden

Customers who have booked tickets before 12 September will be unaffected.

This latest fuel surcharge rise is very regrettable but we have little choice to pass some of the our extra costs on to our customers Martin George, British Airways

BA introduced fuel surcharges on both short-haul and long-haul flights in May 2004.

Since then, the amount charged for a single long-haul flight has risen from £2.50 to £24.

Charges for single short-haul tickets on BA flights booked in the UK are currently £8.

BA said its fuel costs had risen nearly 400% since the end of 2001 and were now costing the airline about £1.6bn a year.

"Our fuel costs remain a real burden," said commercial director Martin George.

"This latest fuel surcharge rise is very regrettable but we have little choice to pass some of the our extra costs on to our customers."

BA said it would look to raise the surcharge on long-haul tickets booked outside the UK by a similar amount in due course.

World oil prices have soared this year and hit a record $70.85 a barrel after Hurricane Katrina struck the US.

On Tuesday, Virgin Atlantic announced that it would increase its own fuel levy to £30 a flight.