Long-haul passengers flying with British Airways are to be the first to experience flight fuel surcharges in excess of £100, as the airline mitigates for soaring oil costs.

In November, the surcharge on a return long-haul ticket rose to £96 from £76. But BA is expected to lead the way on price increases because it has hedged for only half of its fuel needs for 2008.

Virgin Atlantic, on the other hand, has hedged about 65 per cent of its fuel needs and, according to Reuters, therefore claims to have no plans to increase surcharges. And the UK’s third biggest airline BMI also says it has no intention of raising surcharges at the present time.