Bangkok Airways has slashed its fuel surcharge by as much as 52 percent to reflect weak fuel prices and make its ticket prices cheaper to counter the downturn in travel demand.
The reduction, which took effect recently, came as jet-fuel prices slipped to around US$60 a barrel, while crude oil prices dropped to slightly over $40 a barrel.
But it raised questions why airlines continue to impose fuel surcharges even though crude oil prices have fallen well below US$80 a barrel, the level which prompted carriers to pass on the cost difference to passengers in the form of fuel surcharges.
The latest round of fuel surcharges was applied across the privately owned airline’s network, both domestic and international.
The fuel surcharge for international flights between Thailand and Cambodia, Laos, Burma and Vietnam was cut to $15 per flight sector from $25.
The surcharge from Bangkok to Macau is down to $25 from $30, Bangkok-Xi’an to $45 from $60, Bangkok-Guilin to $30 from $40, Samui-Singapore to $25 from $45 and Samui-Hong Kong to $32 from $60.
From Bangkok to the Maldives, the surcharge is reduced to $45 from $90 and Bangkok-Japan to $45 from $95.
The charge for domestic flights between Bangkok and Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Samui, and between Pattaya (U-Tapao) and Phuket, Samui, and between Chiang Mai and Samui is reduced to $12 from $20.
Also, the fuel surcharge for the domestic sector for flights between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap has been reduced to $12 from $20.
Meanwhile, Bangkok Airways is currently holding “Thanks Fares” promotion to offer special all-inclusive web fares through http://www.bangkokair.com for its domestic and international routes.
The one-way fare from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Trat and Phuket is at Bt1,900, from Bangkok to Samui at Bt2,750 and from Bangkok to Hiroshima and the Maldives at Bt18,000. The promotion ends March 31.
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