Qantas increases airfares due to high cost of fuel

Qantas has announced it will raise airfares due to a sharp jump in jet fuel prices tied to the escalating Middle East conflict, joining a growing number of airlines around the world adjusting ticket prices. The airline has confirmed that fare hikes will mainly affect long-haul international routes with the highest fuel use. 

Qantas confirmed it is actively studying options to expand capacity on existing European routes in the coming months, potentially adding extra frequencies or deploying larger aircraft to meet growing passenger demand. Rather than launching entirely new routes, the airline is focused on redeploying existing aircraft capacity where it is needed most.

Passengers are also increasingly choosing alternative connections to Europe via the United States, Asian cities or Johannesburg through Qantas' partner network to avoid the Middle East region.

On the other hand, Air New Zealand announced broader airfare increases on the same day, pointing to the widespread industry impact of surging global energy prices. 

Fuel typically represents one of the largest single operating costs for any airline, making price sensitivity to oil markets particularly acute on long-haul services.