Northern airlines raise surcharges in response to soaring fuel prices
War in Iran drives up price of jet fuel around the world
Air Inuit and Canadian North say they have increased their fuel surcharges in response to the rising cost of jet fuel due to the conflict in the Middle East. (File photo)
Both Canadian North and Air Inuit say they have increased their fuel surcharges in response to a surge in jet fuel prices.
“Canadian North has implemented a temporary fuel surcharge for passenger fares on our jet routes that matches industry precedent,” airline spokesperson Hance Colburne said in an email Wednesday.
The airline has also introduced a temporary fuel surcharge of 40 cents per kilogram on all cargo shipments from Edmonton or Ottawa.
Many northern retailers rely on Canadian North cargo shipments during the sealift’s off-season.
The passenger fuel charge was implemented at the beginning of March and the cargo surcharge began April 1.
“These charges are a necessary response to aviation fuel cost increases experienced recently due to global market volatility,” Colburne said, referring to the current conflict in the Middle East.
On Feb. 28, the United States and Israel attacked Iran. In retaliation, Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping channel for 20 per cent of the world’s oil. The move has caused oil and other fuel costs, including jet fuel, to skyrocket over the past month.
The increasing cost of aviation fuel is impacting all airlines, Colburne said. The fuel surcharge is regularly reviewed.
Air Inuit has also been impacted by the rising cost of jet fuel.
The continuing conflict in the Middle East is causing “significant volatility” in energy markets. That has led to an increase of up to 60 per cent in the price of fuel, an Air Inuit spokesperson said in an unsigned email Tuesday.
Aviation fuel is a critical component of the airline’s operations, the Air Inuit email said. Despite measures taken to mitigate the fluctuating prices, the airline introduced an additional fuel surcharge of three per cent on April 1.
“This surcharge may increase in the next few days in view of the markets.”
Both airlines said the temporary surcharge increases are solely to offset the rising cost of jet fuel and will be applied in a transparent manner.
Canadian North and Air Inuit are not alone. WestJet Airlines also added a fuel surcharge of $60 to all passenger flights that took effect Wednesday.
“Temporary”
Millions in profit, yet gouging some more! We need our own airline in Nunavut!
It s because of , the “LUNATIC ” in the white house !!!
Don’t forget the lunatic in Ottawa.
Tell us what the PM has to do with this? We’ll wait…
@ Forever amazed
Hey now, PP is nowhere near in control.
Cdn north is already expensive enough
Highest air carrier charges in all of north america with a 1 way pass averaging over $2k from kugluktuk to yellowknife. You can fly around the world with those prices from any major cdn city .
Are you buying your tickets from the local bootlegger? The most expensive one way ticket from YCO to YZF for tomorrow, booked last minute, is $1559. Book a couple of weeks in advance and you can get the same ticket for less than $600. I agree that airfares are expensive, but let’s not exaggerate the issue.
Do a little research on airline economics. Airlines dont make money on cheap tickets, they make money on last-minute refundable tickets, business class tickets, and premium seats. Except for refundable tickets, the model described above doesnt exist in nunavut, so they have no choice to charge more to make up for that.
Should only charge half of that since they refuel here when they land our fuel in Iqaluit is set on a yearly price
Gouging? They’re guilty, 100%. Every chance they get to pad their over-valued bonuses, right?
Currently, a round trip flight from Montreal to Poivungnituk is $5,500. For $4,200 two people can fly to Scotland, get food and hotel for ten days and fly back. So why is the price of fuel for flying in Canada so expensive? It isn’t, you’re being gouged by local airlines and you are offered an all-lies-used round trip to… the Arctic.