TAIPEI, TAIWAN - TAIWAN'S aviation authorities announced on Monday that domestic airlines will cut fuel surcharges on international routes to reflect cheaper oil prices.

From December 10, local air carriers will charge US$15 (S$23) for each short-haul flight, down from US$17.5, while the US$45.5 charge for long haul will be reduced to US$39, the Civil Aeronautics Administration said in a statement.

The cut comes as the island's state-owned oil company CPC Corp quotes jet fuel prices at US$83.44 for December, down from US$98.44 for November, it said.

Fuel surcharges were first imposed in June 2004 to help local carriers ease increasing operation costs stemming from oil price rises.

Taiwan's leading carrier China Airlines reported a record net loss of 6.53 billion Taiwan dollars (S$316 million) for the first half of this year, saying the spike in fuel prices was to blame. -- AFP