British Airways plans to raise fuel surcharges by 30 percent on some routes because of higher oil prices — a move which could add around $40 to the price of a return ticket between Bermuda and London Gatwick.

The fee on short-haul flights will increase to £13 ($26) a flight from £10, London-based British Airways said yesterday in a statement. The charge on long-haul flights lasting less than nine hours will increase to £63 ($125) a flight from £53. On trips longer than nine hours, the charge will go up to £79 from £64.

Fuel accounts for about a third of the UK carrier's operating costs. Crude oil reached a record $119.93 a barrel on Monday following the shutdown of a North Sea pipeline and a strike by workers at a Scottish refinery. Dublin-based Ryanair Holdings Plc, Europe's biggest low-cost carrier, yesterday raised fees for checked baggage, saying it wanted to reduce the cost of handling luggage.

British Airways' increased charge takes effect on tickets sold as of May 2 and "reflects continuing high oil prices," the airline said.