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Leopold Chen

Harvey Kong

Cathay Pacific Airways and its budget arm HK Express will double their fuel surcharges next week, following a similar move by another Hong Kong carrier amid rising oil prices driven by conflict in the Middle East.
The city’s flag carrier said on Thursday the increase would apply to tickets issued on March 18 or later.
“The price of jet fuel has approximately doubled since March amid the latest developments in the Middle East,” Cathay said, citing the surge as the reason for the higher charge.
Fuel surcharges for long-haul Cathay flights, such as those between Hong Kong and destinations in North America, Europe and the Middle East, as well as between Japan and the US, will rise to HK$1,164 (US$149) from HK$569, a 104.6 per cent increase.
The charge for medium-haul flights between Hong Kong and destinations in South Asia will also increase to HK$541 from HK$264, a 104.9 per cent rise.
Meanwhile, short-haul flights will be subject to a fuel surcharge of HK$290 per trip, up from HK$142.


HK Express announced that from March 18 fuel surcharges for flights between Hong Kong and destinations outside mainland China would rise from HK$140 to HK$290, a 107 per cent increase.
The surcharge for flights between the city and the mainland would remain unaffected at HK$165.
Hong Kong Airlines also raised fuel surcharges by as much as 35 per cent on Thursday, with travellers heading to the Maldives, Bangladesh or Nepal bearing the worst of the increase.
At Cathay’s check-in counters at Hong Kong airport, some passengers told the South China Morning Post that they would not cut back on travel with the airline even if fuel surcharges increased.
“If we have to travel, we can’t avoid flying with Cathay Pacific,” healthcare worker Irene Cheung said. “We also find Cathay flights more comfortable.”
Family member Thomas Chung, who was travelling with Cheung, said airlines should have a mechanism to manage rising fuel costs instead of charging passengers whenever fuel prices fluctuate.
The pair, who are travelling to Japan, said they felt lucky to have bought tickets before Cathay made the adjustment.

Separately, air travellers flying with Hong Kong Airlines appeared unfazed by the increase in fuel surcharges, although some said they would cut back on spontaneous trips in response.
The city is feeling the impact of ongoing tensions in the Middle East, as joint United States-Israeli strikes on Iran have disrupted air travel, oil exports and supply chains, prompting major airlines to cancel all flights to Dubai and Riyadh.
“I bought a ticket because I want to travel, and I have already applied for leave from my company,” 25-year-old Kristle Wong, who was travelling to Bangkok with her family, said. “If the price is within an acceptable range, I will still choose to fly with Hong Kong Airlines.”
Giselle Lock, 32, who was flying to Shanghai to watch the Chinese Grand Prix, said she usually travelled short distances.
She said the increase was not too high, adding that she rarely took long-haul flights, where the rise was steeper.
Asked about the rise in fuel surcharges by other carriers, Lock said her primary concern was whether flight schedules matched her plans.
But for some, the rise has dampened their appetite for flying.
“I think it will have some impact on where I choose to travel, as prices have gone up,” IT worker Harvin Leung said. “In the future, if higher costs affect my budget when I travel, I’ll give it more thought.”
Leung said while Hong Kong Airlines’ fuel surcharge increase was fairly high, he would accept the rise as the war in the Middle East was affecting prices.
The IT worker also said he would be more careful when choosing flights or airlines, and that he might cut back on spontaneous trips.
Leung said he hoped other airlines would consider the impact on consumers and raise their fuel surcharges by a smaller margin.


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News

Hong Kong

Transport

‘The price of jet fuel has approximately doubled since March amid the latest developments in the Middle East,’ Cathay says


‘The price of jet fuel has approximately doubled since March amid the latest developments in the Middle East,’ Cathay says.


Hong Kong aviation

Hong Kong Airlines

US-Israel war on Iran

Middle East

Cathay Pacific, HK Express to double fuel surcharges on Wednesday as costs surge

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}‘The price of jet fuel has approximately doubled since March amid the latest developments in the Middle East,’ Cathay says

‘The price of jet fuel has approximately doubled since March amid the latest developments in the Middle East,’ Cathay says