Taipei - Taiwan airlines will hike/lift air fare on international routes next month due to rising fuel price. Starting in July 15, Taiwan airlines on short-range international flights will increase or add US $5 to the surcharge, and for the long-range international flights will add US $13 to the surcharge.

The fuel price surcharge increased, around fourth in as many months. For short-haul international flights will doubles the surcharge from June of $2.50  and for long-haul international flights will doubles the surcharge of $6.50.

After the July 15 hike, Taiwan airlines’ fuel surcharge will be a total $37.50 for short-range international routes and $97.50 for long-range international flights, Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) said.

Taiwan’s two leading airlines, China Airlines and Eva Air have both downsized operations, reducing international routes and cutting the number of flights, they faced with soaring fuel price.

The Air New Zealand (NZ) to lift ticket fourth (4th) time in the year 2008 due to rising of fuel costs.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Air New Zealand will increase domestic and international fares from middle of July, the airline said last Thursday, blaming its fourth fare hike since March 2008 on rising fuel prices.

Domestic fares and those to and from Australia will rise 3 percent (3%) from July 17, while the international fares to North America, Asia and the United Kingdom (UK) will increase by an average of 5 percent (5%). The jet fuel is now priced above $170 a barrel, the air line could not continue to absorb the rising cost, said Deputy Chief Executive Norm Thompson. The fare increases would only partly recover the rising cost.

Last month, the carrier raised fares on many routes by an average of 4 percent (4%) that followed two hikes of about 3 percent in domestic fares earlier in the year. Air New Zealand announced or had signaled earlier that further hikes in ticket prices were likely because of high oil prices.

In April, the airline lower fiscal year profit guidance and it no longer expected to better its last year (2007) compared to this year (2008) because of the impact of fuel prices. It set its new forecast for normalized earning before tax and unusual items at between $156 million - $171 million. It had previously expected to match the $205 million posted in 2007.

As of June 15, American Airlines will be charging their customers for $15 on checking one bag for customers who flies within the USA and Canada, which before it was free. And to check for second bag would cost $25. But not all customers will be affected on this new rate. American Airlines official says its frequent-flier member or those who purchase expensive premium tickets such as first class, business class will not have to pay the charge.

There are also other increased in fees for other services like reservation service fees for pets and huge bags that would be cost between $5 to $50 per service. American Airlines CEO Gerard Arpey says “The bottom line is that our revenues, which include ticket sales and fees, must keep pace with our increasing costs.”