TOURNAMENT SPENDING SURGE
For overseas football fans hoping to catch the action in and around New York City, the first hurdle is getting there.
Jet fuel prices are hovering between US$4 and US$5 per gallon – roughly US$1 to US$1.30 a litre – as tensions in the Middle East continue to weigh on global energy markets. That is about 75 to 120 per cent higher than pre-conflict levels.
That is driving up airfares, with fans booking late likely to pay significantly more for flights to the US.
Most international visitors are expected to arrive through John F Kennedy International Airport, where even the journey into Manhattan comes at a premium.
New York taxi driver MK Khan, who is originally from India, said business has been slow in recent months, but he hopes the World Cup will bring a turnaround.
“Right now, there are not too many tourists coming in,” he added. “But when the World Cup starts, people will come here, so my work will be busy.”
A standard taxi ride from JFK Airport to Manhattan carries a flat fare of US$70, but once tolls, surcharges and tips are added, passengers can easily end up paying more than US$100.
