The Civil Aviation Department has given approval for six airlines to lower passenger fuel surcharges from October 1 to November 30.

The new maximum surcharges for short-haul flights will be lowered from $231 to $196 per passenger, while surcharges for long-haul flights will be lowered from $924 to $832 per passenger. Click here for details.

The department said the surcharges on local routes remain at a lower level compared to international ones. Short-haul surcharges amount to about 44%, and long-haul for about 58%, of the international levels.

The department approved the applications after considering changes in the aviation fuel prices, the airline operators' justifications, and other factors like charges levied by other airlines.