British Airways is to increase its longhaul fuel surcharge with effect from June 13, 2007, as a result of further rises in the price of oil.

The fuel surcharge on longhaul flights of less than nine hours will rise from 33 pounds per sector (66 pounds return) to 38 pounds (76 pounds return) and from 38 pounds per sector to 43 pounds (86 pounds return) on flights longer than nine hours. The shorthaul fuel surcharge remains unchanged at 8 pounds per sector (16 pounds return).

Robert Boyle, British Airways' commercial director, said: "The cost of fuel has again risen significantly in recent weeks. Unfortunately, we have little choice but to pass on some of this extra cost to our customers.

"Fuel continues to be our second largest cost and we expect our fuel bill this year to be more than 2 billion pounds.

"The price of oil continues to be extremely volatile. Therefore, we believe the fuel surcharge continues to be the most transparent way for our customers to understand what they are paying and allows us to adjust the direct cost to our customers appropriately, whether that is increasing or reducing the fuel surcharge as we did on some of our longhaul flights in January."

British Airways will also increase its fuel surcharges by similar levels in markets outside the UK.