Air costs from Britain going up

London -- Other airlines are expected to follow British Airways lead in raising fuel surcharges, it was reported Saturday.

British Airways raised its fuel surcharge for the second time in six weeks despite opposition from consumer groups and a drop in oil prices, the Times of London reported Saturday.

Oil prices fell more than 3 percent Friday while British Airways increased its surcharge $84 one way for flights longer than nine hours, up from $76.

British Airways, which made a profit of more than $1.2 billion last year, said the surcharge was needed to pay for previous oil increases.

Oil prices per barrel, however, dropped $2 to $69.22 Friday and is $10 lower than its peak last year when British Airways fuel surcharge was $70, the Times reported.

"These surcharges don't bear any relationship to the real costs of fuel. It's just an arbitrary amount they add occasionally when they feel like it," said James Freemantle, of the non-profit Air Transport Users Council.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.