The war in Iran has triggered a dramatic increase in the price of oil and, in turn, the price of jet fuel. For the world's airlines, this means sharply rising costs that are now being taken into account.
The Danish industry site Check-in reports that SAS has taken measures, which is confirmed by the airline's communications manager.
"We have made a price adjustment in response to the extremely high oil prices," says communications manager Alexandra Lindgren Kaoukji to TT.
According to her, this is a temporary price adjustment and is effective immediately.
How extensive the surcharge will be depends on the route in question and on how the oil price develops.
There is a differentiation between "long-haul" and "short-haul, so it is not the same cost for those who fly long distances as for those who fly short distances," she says.
Norwegian is on board
If I have already booked and paid for a ticket, can there be a surcharge on that ticket afterwards?
The price adjustment does not apply to those who have already booked and paid.
Competitor Norwegian is also taking similar measures. The company's communications director Charlotte Holmbergh writes in a text message that "price adjustments may vary between different routes."
The charter companies Ving and TUI will also not currently charge any additional fuel surcharges on trips already purchased.
However, Ving's travel conditions include a clause stating the company has the right to charge a fuel surcharge on already purchased and agreed prices for a trip if fuel prices rise afterwards.
"But in the 32 years I've been with the company, we've never done that," says Ving's communications manager Claes Pellvik.
Complete chaos
Last week, the price of jet fuel was at its highest level in almost four years, at over $200 per barrel, and an oil market analyst the Financial Times spoke to called the market situation "complete chaos."
Among the airlines, SAS is not alone in implementing a price increase. The Reuters news agency writes that, for example, Australian Qantas and Air New Zealand have announced similar measures.
For Air New Zealand, this is a price increase of ten New Zealand dollars, equivalent to approximately 50 Swedish kronor on domestic flights and almost double that on long-haul flights.
