Fuel costs push up air fares
Air fares are creeping back up to pre-recession levels due to higher fuel costs and an equalling out of seat capacity and passenger demand, according to price comparison website cheapflights.co.uk.
It says U.S. airfares have risen by an average of 19% year on year, while flights from the U.S. to Europe shot up 27.6% in the 12 months to August.
In the UK, airfares went up 23% year on year to August, though this was partly due to an increase in air passenger duty last November.
Fuel prices have risen 13% over the past year, according to the latest monthly fuel monitor and much of the excess capacity that was keeping air fares down has been stripped out of the market, added cheapflights.
However, it said premium traffic was still 8% below pre-recession levels although economy seat sales are 3% higher than before the recession.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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