NEW YORK – U.S. airline fuel surcharges, unseen since the days of record-high oil prices in 2008, are poised to return, said Clem Bason, chief executive of online booking agent Hotwire. Airline industry revenue has been growing at a steady clip year-to-date, but jet fuel prices are climbing just as fast and are eclipsing potential profits.
In an interview, Bason said British Airways has already added a fuel surcharge for certain routes, and he expects the big U.S. carriers to eventually follow. Meanwhile, less seat capacity and growing demand could drive up base-line ticket prices to multi-year highs. If you haven’t bought your summer airfare yet, don’t wait any longer, said Bason.
