Virgin Blue To Introduce Fuel Surcharge
Virgin Blue has today announced the introduction of a fuel surcharge effective on all bookings made after 17 May 2004
due to the continued rise in jet fuel prices. "While jet fuel prices have seen spikes before, we are concerned about
what appears to be a sustained price plateau higher than we have experienced since our launch", said Virgin Blue CEO,
Brett Godfrey.
"Like other airlines around the world, we are focusing our cost controls on things we can try and impact like the
insatiable appetite of some airports as well as internal cost controls. We truly regret that we have been compelled to
introduce this surcharge for the first time, but the oil markets are obviously beyond anyone's influence." Virgin Blue
will introduce a fuel surcharge of $6 per sector for Virgin Blue flights and $10 per sector for Pacific Blue flights on
all bookings made after midnight on 17 May 2004.
Since Virgin Blue’s average flight time domestically is approximately 2 hours and its internationals are just over
three, the low fare airline thought this was appropriate amount for the markets it serves. The fuel surcharge will be
effective for all bookings made on or after 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday morning, 18 May.
ENDS