Oil prices hit a 12-year low！Hong Kong waives fuel surcharges on flights from February, saving you thousands on US trips

▲International flights departing from Hong Kong will be exempt from fuel surcharges due to falling oil prices. (Photo/ Illustration provided by Cathay Pacific)

Reported by Chen Ruizhong / Taipei

Due to the sharp drop in international crude oil prices, the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department announced today (January 20) that starting February 1, airlines are not allowed to impose passenger fuel surcharges on flights departing from Hong Kong until further notice.

International crude oil prices have recently fallen to a 12-year low. As a result, starting December 2015, airlines including Japan Airlines and ANA have stopped charging fuel surtaxes for tickets purchased overseas for Japan-bound flights, thereby reducing ticket prices. Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration has also reduced international air fuel surcharges for domestic airlines starting January 10, saving $2.5 per one-way trip on short-haul Asian routes, $6.5 per one-way trip on long-haul European and American routes, and $13 per round trip. (Approximately NT$439)Taking Cathay Pacific as an example, the original round-trip ticket from Taipei–Hong Kong–New York included a fuel surcharge of HK$1,152. With the new exemption policy in place, travelers' expenses can be significantly reduced. (The Hong Kong–New York fuel surcharge for a round trip was HK$924)

Fuel surtax is an additional fee imposed by airlines on top of ticket prices based on fuel costs. Due to fluctuating oil prices, it is recalculated every two months. During the period of soaring international fuel prices in 2011, the one-way fuel surtax for Japan–Europe routes could reach $335. (Approximately NT$11,323)

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