Fuel Surcharges Added By Two Canadian Air Carriers

Toronto, Canada (AHN) - Fuel surcharges will be added by two Canadian airlines on their tickets to cope up with the rising cost of aviation fuel.

WestJet, based in Calgary, announced extra $20, $30 and $45 charges on plane tickets starting Tuesday. The charge is for one way and covers short, medium and long haul trips. WestJet spokesperson Richard Bartrem said the airline had been toying with the idea of tacking a fuel surcharge for the past few weeks, along with charging for a second piece of luggage.

Bartem told the Toronto Star WestJet would regularly review the surcharge and may recommended an increase or decrease as necessary.

Meanwhile, Porter Airlines, based in Toronto, is adding a $20 surcharge for one-way trips between Toronto and Ottawa and $40 for its other routes from Toronto to Montreal, New York and Halifax.

The two air carriers are simply following Air Canada, which included a $20, $40 and $60 fuel surcharge for Canadian and U.S. trips. Other U.S. and European carriers had gone ahead and collected fuel surcharges on their tickets.

Robert Kokonis, president of AirTrav Incorporated, an airline consultancy, told the Toronto Star, "With oil sitting at $125 a barrel, these fuel surcharges are justified."