Hong Kong freight forwarders protest airlines' fourfold increase in cargo fuel surcharges, far exceeding crude oil price rises.
Hong Kong freight forwarders are protesting against airlines that have increased cargo fuel surcharges (CFS) to more than four times their original levels. The Hong Kong Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics (HAFFA) has expressed “deep dissatisfaction” at the magnitude of the increases, stating that some “far exceeds reasonable limits”.
According to HAFFA, one major airline has raised fuel surcharges on long-haul routes by more than fourfold, while short-haul routes have seen nearly quadruple increases. This compares to a rise in international crude oil prices of around 30% to 40%.
“Such almost immediate and multiple-fold adjustments are clearly disconnected from actual operating cost increases,” HAFFA said.
HAFFA chairman Gary Lau warned: “This reckless escalation is nothing more than forcing an unbearable burden onto freight forwarders, and it will trigger a disastrous domino effect, with airlines likely to follow suit, driving overall logistics costs out of control.”
Lau added that airlines should provide clear and transparent explanations of how surcharges are calculated and justified, and establish a public mechanism that links adjustments to actual operating costs.
HAFFA has called for the reinstatement of government-regulated CFS mechanisms to safeguard fair competition and stop airlines from exploiting market position and geopolitical crises.
Source: aircargonews.net
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