Four airlines including Cathay Pacific are seeking an increase in fuel surcharges starting August 1.

It is the second time in two months for Cathay to seek an increase.

Nepal Airlines and Saudi Arabian Airlines are also asking permission from Hong Kong's Civil Aviation Department (CAD) to increase fuel surcharges.

The fourth airline was not named.

Neither the CAD nor the airlines would reveal the new surcharge level, saying the figure is under review.

The department will make a decision on the applications and announce the surcharge by the end of the week. Current fuel surcharges range from HK$118 to HK$710 depending on the route and the airline.

In May, 11 airlines including Cathay were allowed to increase their fuel surcharges by as much as 37 percent. Nepal Airlines and Saudi Arabian Airlines did not hike their charges.

Fuel surcharges are reviewed and adjusted every two months in Hong Kong. The levels will be adjusted downwards should aviation fuel prices decrease.

Aviation fuel now hovers around US$178 (HK$1,388) a barrel, almost double the level of a year ago. It costs US$159 in May and US$106 at the beginning of the year.

Oil prices surged past US$147 a barrel this month but have been hovering around US$130 lately.

Oil was traded at more than US$130 for the first time in May this year.

According to Cathay, the increase in the May surcharge covered less than half the increased cost of fuel. Jet fuel prices now account for 40 percent of the company's net operating costs, compared with 30 percent last year.

The company said it is considering shortening routes and other measures to save on fuel costs.