The global aviation industry is confronting a jet fuel crisis due to rising costs triggered by the ongoing Middle East conflict, with some forced to raise air ticket prices to cushion the impact.
Leading Chinese carriers, including Air China and China Southern Airlines, have announced that fuel surcharges for domestic routes will be raised starting April 5.
For routes of 800 kilometers or less, the fuel surcharge will be set at 60 yuan (about 8.69 U.S. dollars), while for routes exceeding 800 kilometers, the fuel surcharge will increase to 120 yuan per flight segment.
Air New Zealand has raised all fares and suspended its full-year profit guidance just weeks after issuing it, as the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East drives unprecedented volatility in global energy markets.
China's Hong Kong-based carrier Cathay Pacific has increased surcharges by 34 percent.
American Airlines expects an additional 400-million-dollar in costs for the first quarter.
United Airlines is trimming unprofitable routes through to 2027.
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) plans to cancel 1,000 flights in April.
Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) are expected to raise fuel surcharges sharply on international flights from June.
The ongoing U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran and Tehran's retaliatory strikes across the Gulf region have triggered a shortage of liquefied petroleum gas globally because of the reduction of sea traffic through the key oil shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz. The closure of the sea route has sent global oil prices soaring.
Airlines worldwide struggle with fuel shortages, higher costs
More than 20 films will hit Chinese screens during the three-day Qingming Festival holiday from Saturday to Monday, spanning genres from revolutionary historical dramas, realism movies to suspense thrillers, according to the China Film Administration on Thursday.
Revolutionary historical films such as Blood-Spattered Cliff, Eight Sons, Eight Soldiers, and Half Of The Quilt, will pay tribute to martyrs through the lens.
Three films -- It's OK, Now I Met Her, and Sunshine Women's Choir -- tell moving stories of love, growth, and reconciliation.
It's OK is a contemporary family comedy that follows a mother and daughter navigating their joyful yet turbulent relationship. Now I Met Her tells a rebellious teenager who gets to know his late mother through her old diary. Sunshine Women's Choir, a film from the Taiwan region of China, portrays the "perfect" maternal love of "imperfect mothers."
The suspense film Game of Identity tells the story of two people from different backgrounds who accidentally swap lives, setting off an unexpected adventure. The documentary films Seeking Nature: The Code of Life, and Missions to the Moon (Part One) explore the connection between humanity and science.
Imported films from different countries, including The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2, Project Hail Mary, and Hoppers, will deliver spectacular cinematic experiences to audiences.
The Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, falls on April 5 this year. It is a traditional Chinese festival for honoring the deceased and paying tribute to ancestors. The holiday also provides a short break for Chinese citizens as they engage in outdoor activities and sightseeing.
Over 20 films expected to hit Chinese screens during Qingming Festival Holiday
