British Airways and Virgin Atlantic will drop fuel surcharges from tomorrow (December 18).

The airlines said the move reflects the reduction in the price of oil and the airline’s fuel hedging policy for 2009/10.

The British Airways reduction will mean:

- For World Traveller flights over nine hours a reduction of £30 per sector to £66. On flights of less than nine hours a reduction of £15 per sector to £53.

- For World Traveller Plus flights over nine hours a reduction of £30 per sector to £85. On flights of less than nine hours a reduction of £20 per sector to £63.

- For First and Club World flights over nine hours a reduction of £35 per sector to £98 and on shorter flights a reduction of £20 to £78.

The fuel surcharge on domestic and European services will also be reduced by £4 to £12 per sector. For Club Europe it will be reduced by £5 to £15 per sector.

Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic, will cut charges by up to £35 per sector (one-way flight) depending on the destination and class of cabin.

Economy passengers will pay £53 (£15 less) on shorter sectors and £66 (£30) less on longer sectors.

Premium Economy passengers will pay £63 (£20 less) on shorter sectors and £85 (£29.50 less) on longer sectors.

Upper Class passengers will pay £78 (£20) less on shorter sectors and £98 (£35 less) on longer sectors.

Longer sectors are London to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Beijing Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney, Mauritius, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Hong Kong.


By Bev Fearis