VOA标准英语2012--Rising Jet Fuel Costs Send Airline Fares Soaring

Rising Jet Fuel Costs Send Airline Fares Soaring

Airlines are bracing¹ for a tough year as higher jet fuel prices put a squeeze on profits. In order to recoup higher fuel costs, air carriers are raising ticket prices on travelers, like Brian Blair.

"Airfares, for me, have gone up maybe five to 10 percent in the last few months," said Blair.

Industry analysts² say U.S. airfares are up 4 percent this year, while international ticket prices have increased even more.

"We're seeing a lot of $400 plus (and higher) fuel surcharges and it doesn't bode³ well for the summer (travel season)," said Jeff Klee, who runs a online travel company. He said people will pay higher fares this year because airlines are trying to offset⁴ rapidly rising jet fuel prices. 

"Every time the price of oil rises by $1, that costs the industry $1.6 billion," said Klee.

Jet fuel is the biggest expense for airlines, accounting⁵ for roughly 35 to 40 percent of operating costs. The higher cost to fly comes as seasonal⁶ travelers begin heading off to vacation destinations. George Hobica studies airfares and said that, in some cases, airline tickets could be 100 percent higher. 

"I think consumers are going to see fares that they haven't seen in years. I think consumers have to re-think what a low airfare is," said Hobica.

Frequent business traveler Ines Lormand is worried about soaring airfares. She recently paid more than $1,000 for a flight from Houston to Detroit.

"The prices will continue to go up and it is going to squeeze my travel budget. Somehow I don't know what we are going to do," she said.

International airline Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong's largest, saw its profits drop 61 percent last year, hurt by high fuel prices and a weakening economy in China. 

To try to counter higher fuel costs, more airlines are purchasing new fuel efficient planes and looking at ways to use alternative biofuels to reduce costs.

1 bracing   

adj.令人振奋的

参考例句：

• The country is bracing itself for the threatened enemy invasion. 这个国家正准备奋起抵抗敌人的入侵威胁。
• The atmosphere in the new government was bracing. 新政府的气氛是令人振奋的。

2 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

3 bode   

v.预示

参考例句：

• These figures do not bode well for the company's future.这些数字显示出公司的前景不妙。
• His careful habits bode well for his future.他那认真的习惯预示著他会有好的前途。

4 offset   

n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿

参考例句：

• Their wage increases would be offset by higher prices.他们增加的工资会被物价上涨所抵消。
• He put up his prices to offset the increased cost of materials.他提高了售价以补偿材料成本的增加。

5 accounting   

n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表

参考例句：

• A job fell vacant in the accounting department.财会部出现了一个空缺。
• There's an accounting error in this entry.这笔账目里有差错。

6 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。