Virgin Atlantic, one of the world's largest long-haul carriers, today turned out to be the first carrier to announce that Economy Class travellers will pay lower fuel charges than passengers travelling in Premium Class.
It will be for the first time that the fuel charges will go up by different sums to reflect the higher quantities of fuel used per traveller, and greater luggage allowances, in both Upper Class and Premium Economy cabins.
The fuel prices continue to be at record highs, recently reaching $135 a barrel, resulting to higher prices for various items including gas, electricity and petrol at stations.
Virgin Atlantic's Chief Executive, Steve Ridgway, said, "With jet fuel prices now at levels that challenge the very nature and structure of the entire airline industry, we have decided to levy fuel charges depending on where you sit in the plane.
Our Upper Class and Premium Economy passengers benefit from considerably more space on our aircraft and larger baggage allowances than our Economy passengers, so our aircraft burn more fuel to carry them. We believe that Economy passengers should pay lower fuel charges than passengers in our two premium cabins as their carbon footprint is around half of those seated towards the front of the plane".
From May 30th, the increase in fuel charges per sector applicable to all fresh bookings in UK will be as:
Economy, £2.50 on shorter sectors and £4.50 on longer sectors; Premium Economy, £12.50 on shorter sectors and £16.50 (to £95.50) on longer sectors; and Upper Class, £22.50 on shorter sectors and £28.50 on longer sectors.
