Airfares about to rise for summer

Roundtrip airfares on international flights to the US, Europe, Japan and southeast Asia are expected to rise between NT$1,000 and NT$10,000 per ticket to capitalize on an expected increase in demand from summer vacationers, starting on June 15.

Flights to the US east and west coasts will see the biggest spike in prices, with an average increase of NT$6,000 per ticket, according to the EVA Airways Corp (長榮航空) and Northwest Airlines Inc (西北航空). The airlines will charge NT$36,000 and NT$40,000 respectively, for roundtrip tickets.

United Airlines (聯合航空) will charge NT$36,500 for roundtrip airfare to both US coasts, while Singapore Airlines (新加坡航空) will charge the same amount for west coast flights.

Passengers looking to save a few bucks can fly via Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd (國泰航空) to the US west coast for NT$32,000, the lowest among all airlines, although the trip will require more travel time.

Actual prices at travel agencies should be slightly lower, airline officials said yesterday.

However, since China Airlines Co (華航) flight CI611 crashed on May 25, the company has been unsure of its pricing policy as passengers continue to shy away from its flights. China Airlines spokesman Joseph Wu (武志厚) said the company has implemented its summer pricing, while one travel agent said that the company may have to abort that plan.

"It depends on whether CAL can retain its passengers. If there are still passengers boarding its flights, the company may keep its new price scheme," said David Wu (吳漢寧), an official at the Taipei-based Everlight Travel Service Co (洋洋旅行社).

On average, this year's price rise is NT$2,000 higher than last year's, because of a decline in tourism following the Sept. 11 attacks in the US last year, he said.

Flights between Taipei and European countries are priced at around NT$36,500, up NT$2,000 per ticket on average from last year.

United Airlines will charge NT$13,000 and Northwest NT$17,000 for a flight to Tokyo.

Airfares will revert back to normal pricing in August.