KLM is starting a trial on two short-haul routes where it will introduce a higher charge to pay for the use of alternative aviation fuels.

The Dutch carrier currently applies a SAF (¡°sustainable¡± aviation fuel) surcharge, averaging around 2 per cent of the ticket price, on all bookings but is temporarily increasing this fee on routes from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to London City and Hamburg airports, where the current surcharge is €3 one-way.

KLM said the new ticket prices on these two routes would include a ¡°so-called 100 per cent SAF surcharge¡±. This will result in an additional one-way charge of €16.25 on the Amsterdam-London City route and a €20 additional surcharge for passengers on Amsterdam-Hamburg flights.?

The higher surcharges will apply to one-way economy class tickets for bookings made from June for flights operating from September onwards on the two routes.

The airline said it was making the move to find out ¡°whether passengers are willing to pay more for SAF when it¡¯s already included in the ticket price¡±. The increased surcharges will go ¡°entirely towards the purchase of SAF¡±, insisted KLM.

¡°The trial supports KLM¡¯s ambition to raise customer awareness of the existing options to help KLM reduce CO2?emissions,¡± added KLM in a statement.

KLM and sister carrier Air France started adding a SAF surcharge to fares in early 2022. These charges vary depending on the length of flight and class of travel.

European airlines must ensure that at least 2 per cent of their total fuel use comes from sustainable sources during 2025 as part of the EU¡¯s new ¡°blending mandate¡± rules designed to increase the use of alternative aviation fuels. A similar rule has also been introduced in the UK this year.