Two More Cargo Carriers Boost Fees

Two more shippers announced they will apply surcharges to their services, becoming the latest air cargo carriers to attempt to offset a doubling in aviation fuel prices over the last year. Federal Express, a unit of FDX Corp., said it will add 3% to the cost of all shipments within or from the U.S., starting Feb. 1. The Memphis, Tenn.-based company said it will also apply a surcharge of 10 cents a kilo to its international airport-to-airport and international express freight shipments. Meanwhile, St. Louis-based Trans World Airlines Inc. announced a fuel surcharge of 10 cents a kilo on all freight shipments, starting Feb. 1. The cost of jet fuel has risen 120% in the last 12 months on the back of higher crude oil prices. Recently American Airlines Cargo, a unit of AMR Corp.; KLM Cargo, the freight handling wing of Dutch airline KLM; and Italian airline Alitalia announced similar surcharges. FDX’s major competitor, United Parcel Service Inc., is not adding a fuel surcharge but will increase rates 2.6% to 3.9%, beginning Feb. 7.