Taiwan’s national airlines are to raise fuel surcharges by about US$27.50 for short-haul international flights and US$71.50 for long-haul flights starting on Tuesday next week, Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) Director Ho Shu-ping (何淑萍) said today, citing rising international oil prices amid Middle East tensions.
The amount is based on preliminary oil price estimates by CPC Corp, Taiwan, and has not been officially submitted by airlines, the CAA said in a statement.
This would raise the fuel surcharge for international flights departing from Taiwan to US$45 from US$17.50 for short-haul flights, and to US$117 from US$45.50 for long-haul flights, the agency said.
Photo: Wu Liang-yi, Taipei Times
Airlines have been instructed to disclose the relevant information so that passengers, travel agencies and cargo owners are informed, remaining transparent and helping reduce consumer disputes, it said.
Ho first made the announcement during a meeting at the Legislative Yuan’s Transportation Committee today, after which the CAA issued a news release detailing the price hikes.
Many national airlines have already raised booking service fees over the past month, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hung Meng-kai (洪孟楷) said, inquiring about plans to increase fuel surcharges.
Fuel prices account for about 40 percent of airlines' operating costs, according to market estimates.
If CPC Corp’s fuel prices rise for three consecutive months, domestic ticket prices would increase by an average of NT$97, Ho said.
Considering that domestic travel costs for residents of outlying islands have historically been subsidized, the Civil Aviation Operations Fund would absorb part of the increase for these residents, she said.
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