Domestic airlines to raise fuel surcharge

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China have issued a joint circular raising the national fuel surcharge on domestic airline tickets from Monday, following a national gasoline price hike, Xinhua reported (in Chinese). According to the circular, the surcharge will be increased from RMB50 (US$6.70) per passenger to RMB60 (US$8) for flights under 800 kilometers. For long-distance flights, the fee will rise from RMB80 (US$10.70) to RMB100 (US$13.40). Rising global crude oil prices have pressured the NDRC to raise gas prices by nearly 10%, despite earlier promises not to raise fuel prices in 2007.