Bangkok Airways halves fuel surcharges
- Published: 13/01/2009 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: Business
Bangkok Airways has slashed its fuel surcharge by as much as 52% to reflect weak fuel prices and make its ticket prices cheaper to counter the downturn in travel demand.
The reduction, which took effect last Friday, came as jet-fuel prices slipped to around US$60 a barrel, while crude oil prices dropped to slightly over $40 a barrel.
But it raised questions why airlines continue to impose fuel surcharges even though crude oil prices have fallen well below US$80 a barrel, the level which prompted carriers to pass on the cost difference to passengers in the form of fuel surcharges.
The latest round of fuel surcharges was applied across the privately owned airline's network, both domestic and international. The fuel surcharge for international flights between Thailand and Cambodia, Laos, Burma and Vietnam was cut to $15 per flight sector from $25.
The surcharge from Bangkok to Macau is down to $25 from $30, Bangkok-Xi'an to $45 from $60, Bangkok-Guilin to $30 from $40, Samui-Singapore to $25 from $45 and Samui-Hong Kong to $32 from $60.
From Bangkok to the Maldives, the surcharge is reduced to $45 from $90 and Bangkok-Japan to $45 from $95.
The charge for domestic flights between Bangkok and Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Samui, and between Pattaya (U-Tapao) and Phuket, Samui, and between Chiang Mai and Samui is reduced to $12 from $20.
Also effective last Friday, the fuel surcharge for the domestic sector for flights between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap is reduced to $12 from $20.
Meanwhile, Bangkok Airways is currently holding "Thanks Fares" promotion to offer special all-inclusive web fares through http://www.bangkokair.com for its domestic and international routes.
The one-way fare from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Trat and Phuket is at 1,900 baht, from Bangkok to Samui at 2,750 baht and from Bangkok to Hiroshima and the Maldives at 18,000 baht. The promotion ends March 31.
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