Aer Lingus Group is raising its fuel surcharge on long-haul flights by as much as 38 per cent from Thursday next, as crude oil rises to record highs.

The charge will increase to €55 from €40 each way on flights between Ireland and Chicago, Orlando and Dubai, the airline said yesterday.

On flights to and from Los Angeles and San Francisco, it will jump to €65 from €50.

"The oil price continues to be extremely volatile and there has been a significant upward trend in the cost of fuel," the airline's commercial director Enda Corneille said.