TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - All Nippon Airways Co Ltd (ANA), Japan's second largest carrier, said it will raise a fuel surcharge on tickets for the second time this year due to high oil costs.

The increased surcharge, which will range between 2,000 and 13,600 yen, will take effect for international flights from Oct 15 pending government approval, ANA said.

'ANA regrets that despite constant efforts to reduce costs and secure greater operating efficiencies, long-term rises in the price of crude oil mean that it must ask its valued customers to share the increased cost burden,' the company said in a statement.

ANA last raised prices in March. Rival Japan Airlines has also imposed fuel surcharges since February 2005 and is hiking them from Oct 1.

The rise in ANA's surcharge varies depending on regions. The biggest jump is for flights between Japan and Hong Kong, for which the added charge will more than triple from 1,800 to 6,000 yen.

The highest surcharge, which rose from 8,000 to 13,600 yen, will affect flights to Europe, North America and the Middle East. The smallest, which goes up from 1,300 to 2,000 yen, will affect flights to South Korea.

Despite high oil prices, ANA has reported healthy earnings, with profits more than tripling in the quarter to June helped by rising demand for flights to China and business travel.

JAL, by contrast, has been mired in losses.

(1 usd = 117.38 yen)

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