Airlines get nod to set fuel surcharge

Chinese airlines will be able to set their own fuel surcharges, subject to a government-set ceiling, from Saturday, the country's top economic planner said yesterday.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced a mechanism that links jet fuel prices and fuel surcharges for domestic routes and scrapped a unified standard for the surcharge.

Domestic airlines can collect the surcharge when their jet fuel purchase prices are above 4,140 yuan per ton. The government will set the ceiling based on a formula that includes jet-fuel prices, flight distance and airport fees.