On January 22, Cathay Pacific Airways announced a reduction in its fuel surcharges following an adjustment to surcharge levels approved by the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (CAD).

The new surcharges of HK$61 (US$7.8) for short-haul services in North and South East Asia and HK$280 (US$35.9) for long-haul services will apply from February 1 for a two-month period to March 31, 2009.

The adjustments represent reductions of about 44% from the current surcharges of HK$108 (US$13.8) for short-haul services and HK$499 (US$64) for long-haul services.

A Cathay Pacific spokesman said: "The airline's fuel surcharges continue to be significantly lower than those of other international airlines on comparable routes outside Hong Kong. As CAD has pointed out, it remains an international practice for airlines to levy passenger fuel surcharges despite the drop in oil prices."

Most major airlines currently levy fuel surcharges of up to more than US$80 per short-haul sector, while surcharges between US$100 and US$200 for long-haul flights are not uncommon.