AFTER local shipping line operators, it is now the turn of international airlines to seek a hike in their fuel surcharge.
Last week, Singapore Airlines (SIA), its subsidiary Silk Air (Singapore) Pte Ltd, and Qatar Airways separately petitioned the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) for such an increase.
SIA is seeking a 15% hike in fuel surcharge for first-class passengers from $33 to $38 on flights between Singapore and Southeast Asia, including the Philippines; a 13% increment for business-class passengers from $29 to $33; and the same percentage increase for economy passengers from $22 to $25.
Silk Air is petitioning a 13% hike for business-class passengers from $29 to $33, also for flights between Singapore and Southeast, including the Philippines. For the economy class, the airline is eyeing a fuel surcharge of $25 per sector from $22.
Qatar Airways, meanwhile, wants to increase its surcharge by 6% from $83 to $88 per one-way journey for Manila and Cebu international flights.
As of this writing, jet fuel costs about $91.40 per barrel, after hitting a high of $106.3 per barrel last month, 20.2% higher vis-à-vis the comparable period in 2009.
Local shipping lines hiked their bunker surcharge by 50% starting this month.
