Flight operations have faced frequent disruptions since the war in West Asia began in late February. With jet fuel prices set to almost double by April and the Strait of Hormuz – critical for oil shipping – facing a blockade, the situation is set to worsen in the coming months.
Travelers to and from Europe must be prepared to pay higher prices and face sporadic flight cancellations ahead of the peak summer season.
Reduction in the number of flights
Rising jet fuel prices, along with looming fuel shortages, have led at least 20 carriers from key regions to curtail flight operations scheduled for May, the AP reported, citing aviation analytics firm Cirium. German airline Lufthansa announced on Tuesday that it will cancel 20,000 short-haul flights over the next six months. Other airlines that plan to operate fewer flights include:
Lufthansa Group said it would either refund affected passengers or book them on alternative flights with one of its other airlines – SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and ITA Airways.
Ticket prices have increased
While several operators have reduced the number of flights they operate or cut flights on short, unprofitable routes, some have said they will start charging more per passenger or charge baggage fees. According to the BBC, these include:
- Air France-KLM
- Indigo
- Pakistan International Airlines
- Thai Airways
- Turkish Airlines-Sun Express
- Virgin Atlantic
It is important to note here that an airline or travel agent cannot increase ticket prices after the sale unless there is a specific notice in their terms and conditions. Airlines are likely to increase prices in the future, including baggage or other extras.
Spanish domestic low-cost airline Volotea has actually come under fire for saying it would add a surcharge to tickets it already sold. The move is being contested by local consumer rights groups, the BBC reported.
Why airlines raise prices
Europe imports roughly 50% of its oil from the Gulf countries; and the war in West Asia interrupted both production and transportation of fuel. The supply squeeze nearly doubled the global price of jet fuel from around $99 a barrel in late February to $209 a barrel in early April.
Airlines are particularly vulnerable to fuel price shocks because aircraft propulsion is one of their largest operating costs. And while airline operators are not yet physically running out of jet fuel, there have been warnings of possible shortages if the conflict continues.
On April 16, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimated that there were about 6 weeks of jet fuel left in Europe and warned that airlines would start cutting routes without further ado.
EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen also warned that the energy crisis sparked by the war in West Asia was “not short-term”, saying it was costing Europe around 500 million euros ($600 million) every day, the AP reported.
