SIA, SilkAir to raise fuel surcharges

TRAVELLERS planning to fly with Singapore Airlines (SIA) or its regional arm SilkAir in the next few months should book soon, because fuel surcharges are about to go up.

Round-trip tickets issued on or after April 1 will cost up to US$8 (S$12) more for ultra long-haul flights to Canada and the United States.

Those flying to regional points like Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta and Manila will pay US$4 more for a round trip, when the fuel surcharge goes up from US$32.

All other passengers, including those flying to China, India and Europe will pay a surcharge of US$108 for a round trip, compared to US$104 now.

The increase is the result of a rise in the price of jet fuel over the past two months, SIA said in a statement yesterday.

A barrel of jet fuel now costs about US$76, compared with US$67 in January.

SIA and SilkAir cut fuel surcharges twice, late last year and in January, when the price of jet fuel fell.

The increase will bring the surcharge back up to pre-January levels, though SIA said it will continue to keep the surcharge under constant review.