Hong Kong Airlines to raise fuel surcharges by up to 35% amid oil price surge

Hong Kong Airlines will raise its fuel surcharges by up to 35.2 per cent from Thursday amid soaring oil prices driven by escalating conflict in the Middle East, becoming the first local carrier to do so.The airline announced on its website on Tuesday that fuel surcharges on tickets issued on or after March 12 would increase.Travellers on flights between Hong Kong and the Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal will face the sharpest increases, with charges rising 35.2 per cent from HK$284 (US$36) to HK$384.Flights between the city and East or Southeast Asian destinations – such as Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Singapore – will be subject to charges of HK$212, up HK$50 or 30.8 per cent.The announcement came less than two weeks after the current fuel surcharge levels took effect on March 1.Fuel surcharges on flights between Hong Kong and long-haul destinations – including North America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East – will rise from HK$589 to HK$739 per trip, a 25.5 per cent increase.Oil prices have surged since the US and Israel carried out strikes on Iran in late February. Photo: EPA