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Ryanair has attacked British Airways for its ‘token gesture’ of reducing fuels surcharges on long-haul flights. A statement from the low cost airline called for BA to cut fuel surcharges by at least 40% on all routes, after claiming passengers were still being ripped off with unjustified fuel surcharges on short haul routes.
British Airways recently reduced its long-haul fuel surcharges by 5% – 10% but continue to charge short haul passengers a rate based on oil prices being $146 a barrel – despite the fact that they are paying less than $85 a barrel.
Ryanair’s claim that a growing number of passengers are deserting airlines which offer high fares and high fuel surcharges, in favour of airlines that offer cheap flights and no fuel surcharges, is backed up by recent statistics. Contrasting traffic figures for the month of September show that Ryanair’s passenger numbers were up 20% compared to the 6% traffic decline suffered by British Airways.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said: "We call on BA, the price fixing, high fares and high fuel surcharging airline to end its fuel surcharge scam. Today’s decision to reduce long haul surcharges is just a token gesture as it leaves the rapacious short haul fuel surcharge untouched. This confirms yet again that Ryanair is the only airline where passengers can be guaranteed the lowest fares and no fuel surcharge.
Ryanair is now carrying almost double BA’s passenger numbers and we will continue to attract BA passengers who are sick of being ripped off by BA’s high fares and unjustifiably high fuel surcharges."
The move by British Airways follows a similar one by Virgin Atlantic, who also reduced long-haul surcharges following criticism that airlines had been slow to pass on the benefits of falling oil prices.
source: Directline Holidays
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