In a continuing effort to connect the dots in the travel world, you often come across different news stories that alone tell a simple tale, but that together, provide real insight. These two stories shine a light on the importance that airlines place on their passengers vis-a-vis their cargo.
The Chicago Tribune just published a story about Northwest Airlines cutting fuel surcharges for cargo.
Northwest Airlines Corp. said Monday its cargo unit will cut fuel surcharges in certain markets because of a recent decline in the price of jet fuel. Surcharges on domestic shipments will be reduced to 46 cents per pound from 50 cents.
The story went on to detail cuts in fuel surcharges for transatlantic routes and Asian routes.
Far to the south the Houston Chronicle published a story headlined, US airlines not planning to cut fuel surcharges.
U.S. airlines have no immediate plans to reduce fuel surcharges they tack onto the price of a ticket. That’s even with recent decreases of oil and fuel prices. Most carriers have topped their fare hikes with increases in fuel surcharges, ranging as high as $170 per round trip in the United States and more for international flights.
The Houston Chronicle headline, or at least the following story, should have included a disclaimer noting that some US airlines are in fact cutting fuel surcharges for cargo, but not for passengers.
All of this has been predicted by commentators. Others have suggested that fuel surcharges may be the last to fall.
But it is tough to see in reality. Perhaps the cargo rates are going down faster because investigators are closing in on price fixing based on fuel surcharges. It would be nice if the same investigators could put a bit of enforcement pressure on the airlines in terms of passenger airfares.
We have often thought that were being moved around by the airlines and treated like cargo. Now we have proof that cargo is actually being treated better.
Charlie Leocha is the President of Travelers United. He has been working in Washington, DC, for the past 14 years with Congress, the Department of Transportation, and industry stakeholders on travel issues. He was the first consumer representative to the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections appointed by the Secretary of Transportation from 2012 through 2018.
