Singapore Airlines and SilkAir raise fuel surcharge

Cost of flights will increase by between US$3 and US$25 per sector, depending on the distance and class of travel.

SIA said this was caused by a "sustained escalation in the price of jet fuel in recent months", which had now risen above US$95 per barrel.

The last fuel surcharge hike was in 2008, while the last three revisions were to reduce surcharges when jet fuel prices dropped.

Singapore's The Straits Times reported that other airlines in the region such as Cathay Pacific and Jet Airways were also implementing fuel surcharge increases this month.

CTC Travel senior vice president for marketing and public relations Alicia Seah, however, was quoted as saying that ticket prices would not hit 2008 levels as the fuel charge and tax component was still about 15 to 25 per cent lower compared to then.

(Sources: Singapore, TTGAsia)