Fuel Surcharges Reduced on International Routes

Contributing Editor Carl Unger believes that every trip is worth taking. He loves an extended trip to Europe as much as he enjoys exploring the towns and landscape near home. Basically, you'll find him wherever there is good food, fresh air, and plenty of stories to bring home.

Carl has been writing for SmarterTravel since 2005. His travel writing has also appeared on USA Today and the About.com Boston travel guide.

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According to both the Chicago Tribune and Fort Worth Star-Telegram, airlines have cut international fuel surcharges on many routes. These cuts lowered surcharges by roughly 15 to 17 percent.

With oil prices dropping precipitously over the past few months, many travelers have wondered when fares, or at least fuel surcharges, would follow. Well, here’s your answer: When high prices and receding demand make airlines feel their most lucrative routes are in danger. In this case, airlines must have felt uneasy about their international routes, which are typically popular and profitable, and decided to nudge down those surcharges in the hopes of sparking demand.

Whether or not the price cut gets more people booking flights is anyone’s guess, but hopefully airlines will take the same approach stateside on profitable routes with dwindling passengers. Because what this move shows is that fuel surcharges can and will be lowered when it benefits the airlines to do so.

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