With fuel prices at gas stations going down so much over the past few weeks, we've all wondered why the savings have not been passed on to airline passengers.
Now, British Airways finally responded to the halving of crude prices by dropping their fuel surcharge by £10 to £68 on domestic flights and £109 to £96 on long distance routes. Virgin Atlantic will also implement price cuts along the same lines.
These cuts in fuel surcharges come on the heels of a price fixing controversy involving BA and VA executives. The two airlines were fined a combined over £120 million after admitting to fixing prices on fuel surcharges.
The world's favorite airline CEO (because he's always coming up with outrageous statements), Michael O'Leary, tried to goad BA last week by criticizing them for not dropping their fuel surcharge after they dropped a similar charge for freight.
"BA is using these high and unjustified fuel surcharges as a scam to rip off its passengers."
Surely, O'Leary's comments didn't cause BA to drop the surcharges, but with the price fixing scandal still in the rear-view mirror, England's big two had to do something to get back on the good side of their customers.
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More fuel surcharge cuts
More carriers are joining the ranks of Air Canada, WestJet and Bangkok Airways, cutting fuel surcharges as the price of oil continues to decline. American, Delta, United and Virgin Atlantic have all trimmed their extra fees in the past few days.
More over at Jaunted.com.
Jack on 18 October, 2008