Lufthansa Ups Fuel Charges for Passengers

German flag carrier Lufthansa said Thursday it planned to increase its current fuel surcharges again on short, medium and long haul flights with effect from Sept. 26 to take account the sharp increase in kerosene costs in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Lufthansa said in a statement it would increase its current fuel surcharge on long-haul flights by 15 euros ($18.30) to 52 euros and the current nine-euro surcharge on short and medium-haul flights would be increased to 12 euros. The German airline first introduced fuel surcharges in August 2004 and has raised them three times since, in October, April and mostly recently in July.