NORTHWEST TO RAISE FUEL SURCHARGE

NORTHWEST TO RAISE FUEL SURCHARGE    Northwest Airlines Cargo will increase its fuel surcharge on all North American origin transpacific and transatlantic shipment from 10 cents per kilogram to 15 cents per kilo, effective May 1.
   The increase will not affect U.S.-based domestic freight shipments, for which Northwest levies a surcharge of 4 cents per pound.
   Northwest says the average spot price for jet fuel has jumped 63 percent in the past 12 months from 33 cents per gallon to 87 cents per gallon.
   Almost all airlines have levied some surcharge on shipments to combat rising fuel, sparking a backlash from shippers and forwarders that have questioned the cargo airline industry’s pricing practices.