Airfare prices have risen globally due to the cost of fuel caused by the Middle East conflict, with Australia's Qantas Airways QAN.AX, Scandinavia's SAS and Air New Zealand AIR.NZ announcing airfare hikes. Jet fuel prices, which were around $85 to $90 per barrel before U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, have risen to between $150 and $200 per barrel in recent days. The conflict disrupted shipping via the world's most vital oil export route, leading to a surge in oil prices and a potential deep travel slump. Hong Kong Airlines plans to raise its fuel surcharges by up to 35.2% from Thursday, with the sharpest increase on flights between Hong Kong and the Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal. However, Finnair warned that even the availability of fuel could be at risk if the conflict dragged on.