Lufthansa Long-haul Customers Pay More

German flag carrier Lufthansa said on Thursday it planned to increase its current fuel surcharge on long-haul flights by 10 euros ($12.90) to 27 euros with effect from April 25 to take account the sharp increase in kerosene costs. Lufthansa's announcement came just two days after rivals Air France and KLM also said they were increasing their fuel surcharge on long-haul flights. At the same time, the current seven-euro surcharge on short and medium-haul flights would remain unchanged, Lufthansa said in a statement. The German airline first introduced fuel surcharges last August and has already raised them in October. The latest increase "will remain in place until fuel prices on the commodities markets have stabilised below the current record levels," Lufthansa said.