Fuel surcharge on Taiwanese carriers to fall as oil prices drop

Taipei, June 1 (CNA) The fuel surcharge on international flights operated by Taiwanese carriers will be reduced starting June 7 due to a decline in aviation fuel prices, the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) said Monday.

The surcharge will be reduced to US$35 for short-haul flights and US$91 for long-haul routes after the international aviation fuel price announced by CPC Corp., Taiwan, fell from US$208.78 per barrel in May to US$160.10 in June, the CAA said in a statement.

The fuel surcharge soared to US$45 for short-haul routes and US$117 for long-haul routes on April 7 after aviation fuel prices surged amid tensions in the Middle East and has stayed at those levels since.

The CAA said it has asked airlines to disclose information such as the percentage of their overall operating costs devoted to fuel so that passengers can better understand the surcharge mechanism.

Separately, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications announced that facility fees for transit passengers at Taiwan's airports will be raised to NT$750 (US$23.92) starting on Sept. 1, up from NT$500, citing rising operating costs and inflationary pressures.

The fee will be further raised to NT$1,000 starting Sept. 1, 2028, the ministry added.

The ministry began charging airport facility fees to transit passengers on March 31, 2023. The fees are collected by airlines either as part of the ticket price or at the airport.