Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2 provide passenger update as 296 UK flights scrapped | UK | News

Several major airlines grounded flights in May as the aviation industry grappled with rising jet fuel costs and concerns about a possible fuel shortage amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

The United States and Iran have been in conflict since February 28, when US-Israeli forces launched attacks on many important regions of Iran. Iran responded by attacking sites in the Middle East and blocking the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping route through which 20% of global oil trade passes.

Figures from aviation analytics firm Cirium reveal that 296 departures from UK airports had been canceled as of Tuesday 12 May. This represents an increase from the 120 cancellations recorded six days ago.

The forecast for the busy summer travel season looks more promising; Weekly schedule cuts for June mean 48 fewer outbound flights. While there was a decrease of 31 flights on a weekly basis in July, there was a decrease of only four flights in August.

Nearly 13,000 flights were canceled worldwide in May, resulting in two million fewer available seats, according to previously published data from a Cirium analyst.

According to the Independent, these cancellations are mainly attributed to the rise in jet fuel prices rather than any supply shortage.

A significant portion of the canceled flights are due to German airlines Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines; Both airlines chose to cancel flights as a money-saving strategy. Airports are preparing to relax rules by allowing airlines to cancel flights without losing their designated “slots” if fuel shortages prevent them from flying.

Here’s how some of the leading airlines are responding to the fuel crisis:

The carrier’s parent company, IAG, spoke of “pricing adjustments to reflect these higher fuel costs.”

A spokesman for the airline said: “We are not seeing disruptions to jet fuel supplies, but fuel prices have risen sharply and despite our hedging strategy providing some short-term mitigation, we are not immune from the impact.”

EasyJet Holidays said customers’ holidays “will continue as planned” with no extra surcharges.

Chief Executive Garry Wilson said: “We know holidaymakers may have questions about what recent global events could mean for their travel plans this summer, so we are giving our customers absolute peace of mind that no additional charges will be added to their flights or package holidays.”

Chief Financial Officer Kenton Jarvis has previously stated that European travelers could face higher ticket prices in the summer months as current fuel conservation measures expire.

Jet2 has promised that it will not apply additional fees to summer vacationers despite increasing jet fuel costs. Chief executive Steve Heapy said: “Holidaymakers should have the right to book their hard-earned holidays in the sun without worrying about facing additional costs, and they can have that full reassurance when they book a flight or holiday with Jet2. Customers who book with Jet2 know they’ve locked in their prices with no additional cost surprises later.”

Ryanair’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary, has warned that multiple European airlines could face financial difficulties and possible collapse if jet fuel prices remain high throughout the summer period.

O’Leary claimed Ryanair was “the best insulated, most protected airline in Europe” and confirmed that the airline was committed to avoiding price increases or fuel surcharges for passengers.