LIAT cuts fuel surcharge

Travellers on LIAT, a regional air-carrier, will be flying cheaper thanks to a reduction in fuel surcharge on tickets.

In an announcement on Friday LIAT’s chief executive officer David Evans said effective next Thursday the fuel surcharge will be reduced by 50 per cent for all new bookings.

Evans said that being aware of the impact rising fuel prices had on customers, it was only fitting that they benefited from the decreased prices.

“LIAT first introduced a fuel surcharge in 2003, in the wake of increasing fuel prices. In 2009 when the prices went down, the company took a decision to remove the fuel surcharge. However, in 2011, LIAT reintroduced the fuel surcharge in response to months of spiralling jet fuel prices. That year alone, LIAT spent US$22 million on fuel, or 18 per cent of total costs.”

The price of both jet fuel (the fuel used by airlines), and crude oil has been falling recently.

Caribbean Airlines had rescinded its fuel surcharge last year and was the first airline in the world to do so.