A Profit Surcharge

When the price of jet fuel took off two years ago, the nation's air carriers
imposed a controversial surcharge of up to $40 per roundtrip ticket to cover
rising costs. Now petroleum prices are plummeting - a gallon of jet fuel
costs about 55 cents, compared with 85 cents a year ago - but the energy
surcharge is, by and large, still there. The airlines ought to tell us what
the money is being used for, says Christopher Elliott. (Elliott.org)

http://www.elliott.org/vault/oped/2002/charge.htm