Routenplanung & Unterkunft » Air Canada adds fuel surcharges

Natuerlich wirkt sich der gestiegen Benzinpreis jetzt auch auf die Fluhpreise aus, Air Canada hat vorgelegt, laut News sollen alle anderen Airlines bald folgen. Also wer einen Flug plant, bucht schnell.


Air Canada adds fuel surcharges

BRENT JANG AND JEFF GRAY

Globe and Mail Update

May 10, 2008 at 1:17 AM EDT

Air Canada introduced fuel surcharges on domestic and trans-border flights into the United States yesterday, charging from $20 to $60 one-way, depending on the distance, saying it needs to combat record-high oil prices head-on.

The airline made the move as commuters across the country face price hikes on gasoline-hungry transport services, including public transit and taxis. Drivers already have been hit with surging pump prices in recent weeks.

Air Canada had $715-million in jet fuel bills in the first three months of this year, an extra $130-million over the same period of 2007.

"The surcharge allows us to respond to volatile changes in fuel prices such as we're seeing today," Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said.

Air Canada argued that revenue from the surcharge still won't cover its climbing fuel expenses. But Internet blogs last night carried a flurry of complaints from consumers that the "cash grab" is just the latest in a series of extra fees levied against air travellers, over and above the advertised base price.

Air Canada's one-way fuel surcharge is $20 for short-haul flights of 483 kilometres or less, $40 for medium-haul between 484 kilometres and 1,609 kilometres, and $60 for long-haul of 1,610 kilometres or more for travel within Canada, or between Canada and the United States.

Flights booked before yesterday are exempt from the new fuel fee. Air Canada already has a fuel surcharge on flights overseas, such as $112 one-way from Toronto to London's Heathrow Airport.

Industry experts said airlines are struggling to cope with soaring oil prices, with several major U.S. carriers raising their U.S. fuel surcharges this week by $10 to as much as $65 one-way.

Richard Bartrem, spokesman for WestJet Airlines Ltd., said yesterday that the airline is reviewing whether to match Air Canada's fuel surcharge. "In light of what Air Canada has done, we're looking at what we have to do," said Mr. Bartrem, who expects WestJet to make a decision next week.

WestJet chief executive officer Sean Durfy said in an interview last week that the Calgary-based carrier is finding that seat sales are eroding its revenue, so a fuel surcharge on each ticket will help it recoup some of its fuel costs. Air Canada and WestJet eliminated domestic fuel surcharges in 2004.

Toronto-based Porter Airlines Inc. said yesterday it is studying fuel surcharges, but has made no final decision.

Higher fares threaten to spread to many cab firms and perhaps some public-transit systems across Canada.

While Toronto Transit Commission officials stress it is too early to say, they plan to look at potential fare hikes — possibly in the form of a fuel surcharge — as one way to cover a projected 50-per-cent increase in the TTC's diesel fuel costs next year.

Combined with increased demand from the TTC's expanding fleet of buses and growing ridership, the transit agency's bill for diesel could jump to $97-million next year, up from $65-million in 2008.

Cab fares in Toronto could rise by late summer if city council approves a fuel surcharge requested by some in the taxi industry. Yesterday, council's licensing and standards committee agreed to consult the industry and decide next month on a whether to hike fares.

Other cities are also coming to grips with sticker shock on transportation prices.

In Vancouver, the cab industry plans to ask for a temporary fare boost of 25 to 50 cents a ride, as it is entitled to after fuel prices spike above $1.20 a litre for more than 12 weeks.

"It has a big impact on our drivers," said John Palis, general manager of Vancouver's Black Top Cabs and a former head of the Vancouver Taxi Association. He added that fuel costs and environmental concerns have pushed cab companies in Vancouver to switch to hybrid vehicles.

In Calgary, the taxi industry plans to ask city council for a 12-per-cent meter increase, said Kurt Enders, vice-president of the city's Checker Yellow Cabs.

With a report from Jennifer Lewington


mfg,

Jan

Lufthansa hat es sogar schon am 08.05 vorgemacht und das zum zweiten Mal in diesem Jahr (diesmal zwar nur 5€ aber das macht jetzt 82€ auf einen Flug nach Toronto zb.)

http://www.spiegel.de/reise/aktuell/0,1518,552322,00.html

grüße
Farnor