The travel agent group said during 2007 it alone was required to collect almost $640 million in levies and taxes from customers.

The extra costs were principally fuel surcharges, which comprised $424 of the cost of a flight between Sydney and London, it said.

"The widespread practice of applying fuel surcharges and other component pricing elements creates a misleading environment for travellers and hides the true cost of air travel," Flight Centre managing director Graham Turner said.