Air travel to cost more

Following an increase in jet fuel prices by oil companies,Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines have announced a hike...

Following an increase in jet fuel (aviation turbine fuel) prices by oil companies,Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines have announced a hike in their fuel surcharge by Rs 400 with immediate effect.

Consequent upon successive increases in the prices of aviation turbine fuel,the fuel surcharge for all domestic sectors of Kingfisher Airlines will be increased by Rs. 400 with effect from today across all distances and on all classes of travel including Kingfisher Red, said a company statement form Kingfisher. The new fares will come into effect from June 17.

Indian Oil,Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum had raised aviation turbine fuel price by Rs 3,949 to Rs 36,252 per kilolitre in Delhi effective May 15 midnight while the price went up to Rs 37,367 per kilolitre from Rs 33,260.8 per kilolitre in Mumbai.

A senior official from Jet Airways said that the overall increase in ATF has been about 33 per cent since the beginning of the year and that is why airlines had no option but to raise prices. While Air India did not raise its fuel surcharge today,a spokesperson said that the carrier was also considering such a move. According to a release,Kingfishers revised fuel surcharge for distances below 750 kilometers will now be Rs 2550 and Rs 3440 for distances above 750 kilometers. Similarly the revised surcharges are Rs 2350 and Rs 3100 respectively for Kingfisher Red. Air India currently levies fuel surcharge of Rs 1,950 and Rs 2,700 on air tickets up to and beyond 750 km,respectively.

Jet Airways has decided to increase its fuel surcharge by Rs 400 on all domestic sectors with effect from tickets purchased starting June 17, said a company release.