British Airways, Europe's third-largest airline, said on Tuesday it was raising its fuel surcharge on long-haul flights as crude oil prices shot to record highs.
The airline will increase its surcharge on tickets sold in the UK to 35 pounds ($62) per flight from a previous 30 pounds, the first time it has increased the levy since September.
BA also said it now expected this year's fuel bill to be 600 million pounds higher than last year at 2.2 billion pounds, as a result of soaring oil, up from previous forecasts for a 400 million pound increase.
"Our fuel costs remain a real burden. The price of oil has risen above $70 a barrel and experts anticipate it staying at these levels for some time," BA commercial director Martin George said in a statement.
BA first introduced a 2.50 pound fuel levy in May 2004. The latest rise will be the sixth time it has raised the surcharge with the last increase in September last year.
It will not increase surcharges on short-haul flights where it faces stiff competition from low-cost airlines such as Ryanair which do not have fuel surcharges.
BA said it had 65 percent of its hedging needs covered between April and June at $55 a barrel and 55 percent at $57 a barrel between July and September.
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