Airlines add fuel surcharges
LONDON, England -- British Airways has joined other airlines in imposing a fuel surcharge to ticket prices because of surging oil prices.
Tuesday's announcement by one of Europe's largest carriers came on the same day Australia's biggest airline, Qantas, said it would add between A$6 (US$4) and A$15 to tickets.
German airline Lufthansa also added a fuel surcharge for its cargo business this week, while Scandinavian airline SAS also said it was looking at its prices.
BA said the surcharge on each flight would be £2.50 ($4.44) effective from May 13, and it would review the charge on a regular basis.
Tensions in the Middle East and higher demand from China have pushed oil prices over $40 a barrel for the first time in 13 years.
Prices slipped back on Tuesday after Saudi Arabia called on OPEC to boost production but they remain near record highs.
Fuel accounts for about 11 percent of BA's total costs, which are likely to be £100 million higher in the year to March 2004 than the year before, according to a company spokesman.
BA shares were up 2.95 percent at 261 pence at 1300 BST.
