BA facing pressure to include fuel surcharge in airfare

British Airways is feeling increased pressure to incorporate fuel surcharges back into its published air fares.

The airline’s general manager for UK and global corporate sales, Richard Tams, said to agents attending the Advantage Travel Conference that as fuel prices rose the issue was “occupying our minds.”

He explained the two reasons for not making the change thus far: “Firstly, it’s a logistical nightmare. Every time you want to put the fare up, you have to re-file every fare. Secondly, if you bring the fuel surcharge in, it becomes discounted if you have a discounted rate.”

Tams did acknowledge that it made no sense when an airfare advertised £18 fare could have an additional £80 in taxes and surcharges added on to it.

According to the airline executive, BA would continue to consider the issue, but that there were no plans at the present to follow the lead of Emirates, which has already incorporated the surcharges.

The airline general manager added that the recent downward trend in the price of fuel has been counterbalanced by the weak pound.

Thanks to www.travelmole.com for the quotes above, for more information on this article please visit their website.

www.britishairways.com