Airfares rise in China and beyond amid Gulf oil shock, with 9% increases feared
Surging jet fuel prices are pushing airlines – including several Chinese carriers – to raise fares, with a warning of 9 per cent price rises
Global airfares could rise by 8 to 9 per cent if fuel prices remain high, the International Air Transport Association’s director general estimated earlier this month.
Analysts said the scale of fare increases would vary according to the level of competition on specific routes, with airlines facing less competition likely to introduce bigger rises.
Airlines are raising fares in response to world jet fuel prices, which have climbed 83 per cent since the Iran conflict began.
“They charged more – that is the most straightforward approach,” independent civil aviation analyst Li Hanming said.
Chinese budget carrier Spring Airlines has raised its fuel surcharges by up to 180 yuan (US$26) on flights from China to nearby Asian nations including Japan and Malaysia, according to a route list posted on the company’s website.