BA increases extra fuel charge

British Airways has announced that it is to increase its extra fuel charge on flights, with long-haul passengers being charged an additional £6 per journey and short-haul £2 per journey. The rise has been predicted by many industry commentators, following a steady increase in the price of oil, and the carrier blaming that rise for a drop in profits in the last three months of 2004. According to the BBC News website, oil prices have risen by around 30 per cent this year alone. BA commercial director Martin George is quoted as saying: “Our fuel bill next year is expected to be an extra £300 million. With prices continuing to rise, a surcharge increase is regrettably unavoidable.” Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd