SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines (SIA) said Thursday it and its regional wing SilkAir will raise their fuel levy from next week to cope with soaring jet fuel prices.

For flights between Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries, the fuel surcharge will be increased to US$30 from US$26 per sector from March 26, SIA said in a statement.

The surcharge for flights between Singapore and the United States and Canada will be raised by US$7.0 to US$130 per sector and to US$80 from US$75 on all other flights.

SIA said the increase will "offer only partial relief of higher operating costs arising from increases in the price of jet fuel." Fuel accounts for about 37 per cent of the airline's expenses.

Oil prices surged to an all time high of US$111.80 a barrel on March 17 but have since eased to around US$102.

SIA said it will continue to monitor the price of jet fuel and review the fuel levy accordingly. - AFP/ac