Cathay Pacific to nearly double fuel surcharge on Wednesday as costs surge

Cathay Pacific Airways will nearly double its fuel surcharges from next Wednesday, following a similar move by another Hong Kong carrier as rising fuel prices driven by the Iran war put pressure on airlines.Cathay’s move, announced on Thursday and applicable to tickets issued on or after March 18, came on the same day the higher fuel surcharge rate of Hong Kong Airlines took effect. The latter, announced two days earlier, represented an increase of up to 35 per cent.“The price of jet fuel has approximately doubled since March amid the latest developments in the Middle East,” Cathay said in a statement, citing the surge as the reason for the charge hike.Fuel surcharges for long-haul Cathay flights, such as those between Hong Kong and destinations in North America, Europe, and the Middle East, as well as between Japan and the US, will rise to HK$1,164 from HK$569, a 104.6 per cent increase.The charge for medium-haul flights between Hong Kong and destinations in the South Asian subcontinent will also increase to HK$541 from HK$264, a 104.9 per cent rise.Meanwhile, short-haul flights will be subject to a fuel surcharge of HK$290 per trip, up from HK$142.