HK airlines seek higher fuel surcharge

MANILA, Philippines - Two Hong Kong-based airlines are seeking the green light from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) to raise the fuel surcharge on flight tickets amid the rising aviation fuel in the world market.

Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. and Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Ltd. have filed separate petitions before the CAB seeking to impose upward adjustment of fuel surcharge on international passenger tickets.

Both Cathay Pacific and Dragonair intend to raise the fuel surcharge to $119.9 from $115 for flight tickets between Hong Kong and South West Pacific, North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa and South Asian sub-continent including same day transit in Bangkok or Singapore.

For flight tickets for other destinations, Cathay Pacific and wants to raise the fuel surcharge to $29.40 from $27.80.

This would be the second time since September that Cathay Pacific and Dragonair raised the fuel surcharge imposed on international passenger tickets.

Last September, both airlines raised the fuel surcharge to $115 from $110.10 for flight tickets between Hong Kong and South West Pacific, North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa and South Asian sub-continent including same day transit in Bangkok or Singapore.

For flight tickets for other destinations, Cathay Pacific wants to raise the fuel surcharge to $27.80 from $25.60.

Cathay Pacific has a fleet of 135 wide-body aircraft with an average age of 9.7 years. The airline is committed to operating a modern, fuel-efficient fleet and has 80 aircraft on firm order for delivery up to 2020.

Dragonair is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cathay Pacific and operates a fleet of 39 passenger aircraft.

The CAB allows airlines to impose fuel surcharge on international and domestic passengers as a temporary relief to help them recover losses arising from the increase in jet fuel prices in the world market.