SIA drops surcharges

Singapore - Travel buyers may breathe a sigh of relief now that famed-for-comfort Singapore Airlines (SIA) has reduced its fuel surcharge.

SIA has cut fuel surcharges on short- and medium-haul flights in response to easing jet fuel prices.

"When the surcharges were introduced, Singapore Airlines undertook to keep their application under ongoing review, and to make adjustments in response to sustained changes in the price of jet fuel," the company said in a release.

Surcharges on flights between Singapore and cities in South East Asia have been reduced from US$40 to US$36 per sector. On longer flights to Australasia, Japan, South Korea, greater China, South Asia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the surcharge has been dropped to US$100 from US$110.

The fee will however remain at US$110 for flights between Singapore and cities in Europe and South Africa, as well as flights between North America and Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei, Frankfurt and Moscow. The surcharge also remains at US$180 for flights between Singapore and cities in the USA or Canada.

"Collections from the fuel surcharges will still only give partial relief from the increased expenditure on jet fuel, which remain at historically high levels despite the recent correction," SIA said in a statement.