Kerosene surcharge
The kerosene surcharge is a flexible fee that is set by an airline and depends on the current kerosene prices. The kerosene surcharge is not required by law.
Some airlines use other names for this surcharge, such as YQ Airline Surcharge .
description
In the case of ticket prices , the kerosene surcharge is listed under taxes and makes up the largest proportion of these. Nevertheless, airlines understand the kerosene surcharge as part of the flight price and retain it if the flight ticket is canceled if the booked tariff is non-refundable. Therefore, this is actually a hidden increase in the airfare. In 2018, however, the Erding District Court decided that in the event of a cancellation, the taxes, fees and charges included in the flight price, including the fuel surcharge, must be refunded.
Internally, the surcharges have the advantage that the entire tariff system does not have to be recalculated if oil prices rise. In order not to have to adjust the flight prices daily in all systems and on all price lists and to meet competition regulations, this fee is now listed as a surcharge in taxes.
history
In 1998 crude oil cost ten dollars a barrel and there were no kerosene surcharges. After the turn of the millennium , prices rose and in the mid-noughties, many major airlines added a surcharge on fuel. With this, the airlines wanted to show customers that there was nothing they could do for the price increase. Lufthansa has been demanding the contract since 2007, Air Berlin since 2008.
Since the 2011/12 winter season, Condor has been the first airline to no longer report the kerosene surcharge separately. InterSky , AirAsia , Cebu Pacific and Virgin Australia followed. Also Ryanair , EasyJet , German Wings and Cathay Pacific without a fuel surcharge.
criticism
Consumer advocates and politicians are repeatedly calling for the kerosene surcharge to be reduced, since prices would be driven up with the argument of rising energy costs, but would not be reduced if oil prices fell. Some flight portals are accused of a lack of price transparency because the final prices are not immediately recognizable. Despite the criticism, many airlines are sticking to the kerosene surcharge.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e DO THE AIRLINES ROCK US WITH THE KEROSENE SURCHARGE? ( Memento of the original from January 27, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed October 27, 2015
- ↑ Az. 4 C 2612/18, judgment of October 11, 2018, Erding District Court.
- ↑ Oil price is falling, why is the kerosene surcharge remaining? , accessed October 27, 2015
- ↑ a b Kerosene surcharge persists despite cheap oil , accessed on March 27, 2016
- ↑ a b Airlines put kerosene surcharge to the test , accessed on October 27, 2015
- ↑ Falling crude oil prices: First airline abolishes kerosene surcharge , accessed on October 27, 2015
