Multiple airlines across the globe have raised fares and increased fuel surcharges as the Middle East conflict is driving up jet fuel costs and disrupting travel.
The war has disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil export corridor, pushing fares higher on some routes and deepening concerns about a broader hit to travel demand.
Hong Kong's flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has announced that it is increasing passenger fuel surcharges starting from March 18. For example, on long haul routes, the airline says there will be around a 100 percent increase. In a statement, the airline says that "the price of jet fuel has approximately doubled since March amid the latest developments in the Middle East". Hong Kong Airlines also says it is raising fuel surcharges, including a 35-percent increase on some routes.
South Africa's airlines are also introducing fuel-related price adjustments after the sharp spike in aviation fuel costs.
Cape Town International Airport and King Shaka International Airport in Durban have both raised the cost of Jet A1 fuel in response to the rising oil prices.
In a statement released on Wednesday, South Africa's largest airline FlySafair said Jet A1 aviation fuel prices at South African airports increased by roughly "70 percent in just one week", forcing airlines to reconsider their pricing structures.
Australia's Qantas Airways and Air New Zealand are among carriers that announced price increases as fuel costs have skyrocketed.
The Middle East is home to five of the world's top 10 oil producers. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman which carries about one-fifth of the world's oil consumption and roughly 20 percent of global liquefied natural gas trade, has nearly come to a halt following the outbreak of war between Iran and the United States and Israel on Feb. 28.
The region is also a crucial hub for global aviation, and volatility in the region has direct implications for airlines and travelers alike.
The war has caused restrictions on operations at key transfer hubs in the Middle East amid airspace closures, affecting passengers as flights are rerouted or diverted.
There are also fewer seats available after major Gulf carriers suspended flights, which is contributing to rising ticket prices between Asia and Europe.
Cathay Pacific says it is adding flights to London and Zurich, with services to Riyadh and Dubai remaining suspended until the end of March.
Emirates said on Saturday that it would be operating a reduced flight schedule.
Multiple airlines increase fuel surcharges as Middle East conflict drives up fuel cost
Multiple airlines increase fuel surcharges as Middle East conflict drives up fuel cost
