Dubai: Emirates, the most profitable Arab airline, raised its fuel surcharge for the third time in six months, effective last Monday, amid growing concerns over high fuel prices.

Adding in previous fuel fees, the total surcharge now amounts to Dh270 one way and Dh540 return on flights to destinations in the Middle East and South Asia.

The charges are lower for flights to Amman, Beirut, Damascus and Alexandria, adding up to Dh240 one way and Dh480 return.

For long-haul destinations, return flights to Europe and Africa contain a Dh580 charge, and Dh640 for flights to Australia and New Zealand.

The additional charges amounted to Dh50 one way and Dh100 roundtrip per ticket to all destinations except Australia and New Zealand, where charges of Dh80 and Dh160 have been implemented.

The new fees amount to a price rise of between four and 11 per cent per return ticket.

"Jet fuel prices have continued to soar, impacting all airlines," an Emirates spokesperson told Gulf News. "The present surcharge covers only part of the incremental costs borne by us." However lower Emirates fares during the slow season should compensate for part of the additional charges.

The spokesperson said Emirates buys aviation fuel in the international markets and has to pay the same rates as other airlines it competes with.

"In order to minimise and delay the need to increase the fuel surcharges, Emirates has worked hard to offset the negative impact of the escalating jet fuel prices through stringent cost-containment measures across its operations," he said.

"These measures, though effective, have proved insufficient, leaving us no alternative but to revise the fuel surcharges."

Mario Pinto, customer service manager at Al Futtaim Travel, said he does not think the move would drive customers away from flying Emirates.

"If people want to travel, they'll travel," he said. "An extra Dh50 is not enough to change their minds. Plus, prices have gone down [due to the low season]," he said.

High fuel cost had earlier reduced Emirates Group's profitability by 90 per cent, bringing it down from 49 per cent in 2004-05 to 4.9 per cent in 2005-06 to Dh2.8 billion ($762 million).

Most return flights to cost Dh100 more

- Monday's fuel charge hike is Emirates' third in six months.

- Most return flights will see a Dh100 jump in prices.

- Fuel surcharges range from Dh480 for return flights to nearby Middle East destinations to Dh640 to New Zealand and Australia.

- Etihad Airways surcharges range from Dh360 to Dh400 for Middle East flights.

- Lufthansa charges Dh510 for fuel on intercontinental return flights.