Airline hedges fuel, ups surcharges

China Eastern Airlines Corp, the nation's third-largest carrier, is hedging more fuel purchases and raising surcharges to offset record jet-kerosene prices.

The carrier plans to hedge 40 percent of its fuel needs this year, compared with about 30 percent in 2007, Board Secretary Luo Zhuping said yesterday. The airline has also boosted ticket levies by about 20 percent on domestic routes, he added.