A DECISION by Aer Lingus to further increase its fuel surcharge on four transatlantic routes by €10 has been criticised by the Consumers’ Association of Ireland.
Its vice-president, Michael Kilcoyne, said passengers “end up paying all the time and really, Aer Lingus must have a death-wish for themselves as they keeping raising the surcharges”.
Yesterday’s price increase announcement by the airline regarding some transatlantic routes may prompt people to fly first to Britain before taking a connecting flight to America, Mr Kilcoyne said.
He also claimed rate rises would affect overall travel patterns in the future as fewer people would want to fly, opting instead to use the ferry when going to destinations such as France or Britain.
But the airline said it was being forced to raise fuel surcharges on four long-haul routes, to take effect for flights booked from next Wednesday, due to a 50 per cent rise in jet fuel spot prices since the beginning of 2008.
The fuel surcharge will increase by €10 on flights to Chicago, Orlando, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Aer Lingus corporate affairs director Enda Corneille said: “The overall effect of the price of fuel continues to be extremely challenging for the airline industry, despite some price fluctuations over the last number of days.”
Ryanair was quick to criticise its rival’s new charges yesterday, accusing it of “gouging passengers”. Stephen McNamara of Ryanair said Aer Lingus “has been using fuel surcharges as a mask for higher air fares”.