Summer travel to and from Switzerland will become more expensive as SWISS and Edelweiss increase their fuel surcharges.
The war in the Middle East is driving up fuel prices, affecting not only the motorists who have to pay more at the pump, but the aviation industry as well.
Because kerosene is now more expensive, SWISS and Edelweiss, like many other airlines, pass these higher costs on to consumers.
Both companies confirmed that they have raised the surcharges on air fares as a result of the increase in jet fuel prices.
“Due to the current unstable situation and its impact on oil prices, the ‘International Surcharge’ has been adjusted accordingly,” a SWISS spokesperson told the media.
‘International Surcharge’ is an additional fee added by airlines to cover rising operational costs – such as fuel.
The exact amount of this hike depends on the specific route.
Other airlines as well
If you think you can save money by flying out of Switzerland’s airports with companies other than SWISS or Edelweiss – you won’t.
Not only are other airlines within the Lufthansa group – to which both SWISS and Edelweiss belong – also raising their prices, but many other companies are doing this as well.
According to IATA, the world’s leading airline association “a rise in airfare prices is inevitable given the surge in the cost of hydrocarbon due to the war in the Middle East.”
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For instance, Air France and KLM plan to increase long-haul ticket prices by 50 euros (46 francs) per round trip.
And United, which flies nonstop from Zurcich and Geneva to US cities, could increase its airfares by 20 percent.
As for EasyJet, its CEO Kenton Jarvis said travellers should expect higher ticket prices towards the end of summer, when existing fuel stocks come to an end.