Aer Lingus raises surcharge on four US routes

Aer Lingus is to increase its fuel surcharges on four transatlantic flights for the second time in two months.

The rises will add €10 to the average cost of a one-way flight to Chicago, Orlando, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Aer Lingus corporate affairs director Enda Corneille said the increase was required because the cost of fuel for airlines was up almost 50 per cent since the start of the year and added that the routes in question were among the longest.

"The overall effect of the price of fuel continues to be extremely challenging for the airline industry, despite some price fluctuations over the last number of days," he said.

Surcharges on flights to Chicago will increase from €75 to €85, to Orlando from €85 to €95 and to San Francisco and Los Angeles from €100 to €110.

Aer Lingus applied its first fuel charges in May 2006. Today's is the ninth rise since then with the last one announced at the start of June.

Although oil prices were trading at around $126 a barrel today in recent weeks it has peaked at $146. The airline said the fuel surcharges for its flights to New York, Boston and Washington Dulles would remain unchanged.

The new charges will apply to flights book from next Wednesday, July 30th.