SCOTTISH passengers are facing a hike in ticket fares on several key routes as Loganair has responded to the Iran war with a series of huge fuel surcharge hikes.
The Scotsman reports that the airline has quadrupled its fuel surcharge for passengers since the start of the war.
Passengers on Loganair’s shortest domestic routes, like those between Glasgow and the Isle of Islay, have seen the rate increase from £3.45 to £7.45, then £9.45 and now £13.50.
On longer flights, the surcharge has risen higher. For passengers on the key Edinburgh to Shetland route the charge is now £17, and £20 from Aberdeen to Birmingham.
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The Scotsman reported that the airline had added a small, incremental surcharge in response to the rise in fuel costs.
Adding that the charge was constantly under review to ensure it is proportionate.
The surcharge does not apply to most routes protected by public service obligations, including those between Glasgow and Barra, Tiree and Campbeltown. Although, a £20 charge is in place on the Dundee to London Heathrow PSO route, which is slated for closure by September.
A fee of £3.95 was introduced in 2022 after a large spike in oil prices, but was not removed despite prices falling.
Orkney and Shetland's LibDem MP, Alistair Carmichael, raised concerns that Loganair had introduced surcharges despite other airlines saying they would not do so.
He said: “They have continued to impose fuel surcharges, even when the price of fuel was lower, and now they want to ramp that up on the back of the current price spike. They cannot have it both ways.
“They should explain to their customers why this is necessary when other airlines have been able to hedge against this.
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“If extra fuel costs are to be treated as permanent then it would surely make sense for them to build that into their ticket price rather than imposing a surcharge.
“That way, at least island customers would be able to get the 50% reduction through the air discount scheme.”
Companies like Jet2, Ryanair and easyJet have not introduced surcharges despite increasing price pressures from the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
A spokesperson for easyJet said: "We are always focused on keeping fares low and have already confirmed we will not add surcharges to any pre-booked flights and package holidays, or to any future bookings for this summer.”
A Ryanair spokesperson added: “We will not be adding fuel surcharges.”
