Lufthansa to raise fuel surcharge on its domestic and European flights

Deutsche Lufthansa AG, the flag-carrier airline of Germany, is increasing fuel surcharge on its domestic and European flights.

Lufthansa, in a statement, blamed the move to raise the fuel surcharge on the “steep rise” in the prices of crude oil in 2009.

The fuel surcharge will go up to euros 24 ($34) from euros 21 ($30) per flight for all tickets issued on or after July 2, 2009.

Lufthansa said it would classify flights to Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and North Africa as ‘European’ rather than long-haul flights, for the purpose of surcharge. This new classification, the airline added, would reduce considerably the fares for flights to some of these countries, since previously the long-haul surcharge had applied for these flights.

The carrier also will “stagger” its fuel surcharge on long-haul routes – which are at present euros 82 ($115), depending on the distance.

While Lufthansa’s fuel surcharge for flights to the Middle East and East Africa will now go up to euros 77 ($108), the fuel surcharge will stay at euros 82 ($115) for flights to North America and India.

Passengers bound for South America, other parts of Africa, South-east Asia and the Far East will have to shell out a fuel surcharge of euros 92 ($129) per flight.
Lufthansa said all the fares that the carrier offers or advertises already include the fuel surcharge and that it would regularly monitor oil prices and make adjustments, if needed, in future.

Meanwhile, Lufthansa Cargo, the cargo-airline subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, has said it plans to increase its fuel surcharge to euros 65 a kilogram from July 6, 2009.

Lufthansa Cargo had cut its fuel surcharge to euros 60 a kilogram on March 9, 2009.

The statement from Lufthansa said that the prices of crude oil have gone up by over 50% since December 2009, leading to higher fuel costs for the airline.