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Should we pay more to fly?

British Airways is to increase its fuel surcharge on longhaul flights by 50 per cent after a surge in oil prices - its second hike this year. Charges on top of ticket prices are commonplace, particularly since the advent of no-frills airlines, so shouldn’t airlines just charge more for tickets? And can cheap flights be justified any more, in view of the damage that air travel does to the environment? Read the article and e-mail your view, using the form below

I think it’s madness how much we can fly for these days. Having seen very disturbing figures about aircraft pollution in relation to traffic pollution, I believe that the only solution is to heavily increase the tax on fuel. I have little sympathy for the aircraft industries, who have been protected against this tax for so long, and for those wanting to keep their 1p flights to Spain. Support British tourism - but don’t fly around Britain, take the train. Richard Bakker, Peterborough

Just imagine if the money spent on travel was used to improve the area where the traveller resided. Surely the world would be a healthier place. And the ex-traveller would benefit the most, with all the improvements to the local environment. Peter Stamford, Port Elgin, Canada

The price for a ticket to Scotland from the US in the summer months is disgusting, dropping precipitously when the kids return to school. You’d think some low-cost airline could take on the greedy (and inefficient) airlines. Mathew Thompson, Livingston, New Jersey

Fuel surcharges, “security” 9/11 charges, etc, should be included in all fares quoted. Cheap flights will continue, no matter the environmental consequences, as long as market forces are in effect. Nance Shapira, Vero Beach, Florida

We desperately need an international agreement to levy duty on aviation fuel, as we currently do on petrol and diesel. This would help to ensure that ticket prices more closely reflected the environmental damage caused by air travel and freight, and would also raise revenue for governments. Pete Williams, Cambridge

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The fuel price hike is a scam. If chickens could fly transatlantic they would do it, and for free. And they would serve fresh eggs and omelettes onboard into the bargain - not some mangy American scarelines peanuts, or British barfways warmed-up toilet water. Bring back cheap avgas, I say. John Thomason, Leicester



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