British Airways lifts surcharge as oil price soars

4th Feb 2011 17:03

British Airways owner International Airlines Group (IAG) has blamed soaring oil prices for a £12 increase on the fuel surcharge on long-haul flights.The new charges mean that travellers on the UK airline will pay a surcharge of £88 for flights of more than nine hours, up from £76 previously. On flights of less than nine hours, they will pay £75, up from £63 previously."The move reflects the continuing substantial increase in the price of oil and a 14% rise in the spot price of jet fuel since our last fuel surcharge increase in December 2010," ICA said.For First and Club World tickets, the surcharge will increase by £17, to £125 on flights lasting more than nine hours or £105m on flights of less than nine hours.Oil prices have been soaring recently, in line with higher commodity prices generally. Many benchmark crude prices have passed $100 a barrel.