by CAROL MARTINDALE

WITH THE PRICE of fuel on the international market increasing each week, so too is the cost of airline travel.

However, these high priced tickets aren't stopping Barbadians from packing their bags and jetting off for the summer.

Officials in the local travel industry told the SUNDAY SUN that since most Barbadians usually plan their vacations sometimes a year or two in advance, the increase in airline tickets was not yet having a major impact on travel.

On Friday, crude oil was priced at US$127 a barrel, while aviation fuel was US$166.

Customer service manager for Air Canada, John White, said that even though the airline added a fuel surcharge of US$85 on May 20 to every ticket purchased, he had not yet seen a reduction in bookings for summer travel.

"People are still travelling. Our bookings don't look too bad now," he said, noting that during summer, most airlines reduce capacity. Air Canada will be moving from a 210-seater aircraft to a 120-seater. He said that last winter there were 11 flights landing in Barbados each week, which translated into 2 000 seats. For summer, they would be cutting to 850 seats.

White said that with the frequent increases in fuel costs, the airline was spending $500 million more in fuel this year, compared to last year.

LIAT's chief executive officer (CEO) Mark Darby said they also added a US$2.50 surcharge to their tickets.

A notice on the airline's website reads: With world fuel prices rising substantially over the last eight months, LIAT's operating costs continue to rise. As a result LIAT will increase its Fuel Surcharge on all tickets effective Friday April 11, 2008 by USD2.50 per sector.

Earlier this year, Darby told the SUNDAY SUN the airline had been paying US$1.25 million for fuel every month for the last year, but noted that this year the cost jumped to US$2.2 million for its fleet of about 17 planes.

Under pressure

He said they were under pressure to keep fares low, noting that at the time they had absorbed the costs in fuel. That was when it was at US$113 a barrel.

During a telephone interview on Thursday, Darby said while people were still travelling the region, he was more concerned about the long term economies of the region.

"Everything that makes the cost of travel more expensive will be a problem; but I am more concerned about the longer economic terms.

"With costs going up there is less in the wallet and purse. It is bound to have an effect and it will have an effect on tourism. If things are still as they are now, things will slow down," he said, adding that the airline was expecting a slower second half.

No dip at present

Indar Weir, managing director of Indar Weir Travel Centre said that even with the increasing cost to travel, he was not yet seeing a dip in summer bookings.

"Summer is usually a time when Bajans take advantage of the long summer break and families plan long in advance for their vacations."

"People sometimes plan their vacations a year or two in advance. There are also repeat travellers who head out to New York, Toronto," he said, observing that some people were buying their tickets much earlier.

Weir, who is also President of the Travel Agents Association of Barbados, said: "Some people used to wait until the last minute and then you would see a rush. Now, they plan earlier and get their tickets much earlier".

* carolmartindale@nationnews.com