Air France is further increasing its economy fares on long-haul flights; kerosene rules the roost.

Another 50 euros. Air France is raising its fuel surcharge once again, the second time in two months, and economy passengers on long-haul flights are seeing their bill increase significantly. After an initial increase in March, the airline is adding another 50 euros in April to certain round-trip fares in both economy and premium economy, bringing the total surcharge to 100 euros on some routes.

Some connections to North America are adjusted to a lower level, around 70 euros, but the message is clear: the ticket price is no longer a snapshot, it's a thermometer.

The return of surcharges, the bill quickly climbs.

The trend extends beyond Air France, and that's where the times speak for themselves. Transavia, the low-cost subsidiary of the Air France-KLM group, is also raising its fares, by an average of around 10 euros per round trip. Those who have already bought their tickets can breathe a sigh of relief; the price paid remains the price, with no adjustments afterward. For others, it feels like a ticket counter that keeps shifting: one day a promotion, the next a price increase, and in the middle, a consumer who calculates, hesitates, and then often ends up booking anyway.

Because the shock to fuel costs is severe: kerosene has jumped from around $750 a ton before the conflict in the Middle East to nearly $1,900 in early April, a level that is shaking up an expense item representing about a quarter of operating costs. Airlines can absorb some of the impact through hedging, but they can't eliminate the bill, and they are adjusting where the market allows, especially when demand remains strong and supply is sometimes constrained by aircraft and maintenance. The paradox is complete: prices are rising, planes are filling up, and the skies show no sign of calming down in the short term.