First Class and Business Class airfares from Hong Kong have jumped 2.3 percent and 1.8 percent respectively during the quarter, according to the second quarter American Express Airfare Index for the Asia Pacific region in 2005, released on Wednesday.

The index shows that First Class airfares from Hong Kong have climbed 2.8 percent and Business Class fares by 3.0 percent from a year earlier.

Airfares have also increased considerably in several classes of travel on routes from Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Taiwan and Thailand. Only a few reductions in airfares were recorded on First Class airfares on routes from Indonesia, Economy airfares from Singapore and Excursion airfares from India.

Robert Tedesco, head of Consulting Services Japan Asia Pacific Australia at American Express, said that the results primarily reflect the ongoing impact of jet fuel prices and changes in airline pricing strategy.

The American Express Asia Pacific Airfare Index is published every quarter as a guide to airfare changes and trends in the Asia Pacific region.

(Xinhua News Agency June 8, 2005)