Rising jet fuel costs are forcing UK airlines to cut flight schedules and increase fares.
Several airlines, including KLM, Air Canada, and Lufthansa, are reducing flight operations, while others like British Airways and EasyJet are maintaining their schedules.
Passengers may experience higher ticket prices, increased fees for baggage and other extras, and potential travel disruptions due to flight cancellations or re-routings.
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Airlines serving the UK are trimming schedules and warning of higher travel costs as jet fuel prices rise amid the conflict in the Middle East. The changes come as some carriers reduce the number of flights they operate, while others move to increase charges per passenger or raise fees for luggage and other extras.
Several airlines that fly to and from the UK have said they plan to operate fewer flights. Those named include KLM, Air Canada, Asiana Airlines, Delta Airlines, Lufthansa, and SAS. By contrast, some companies said they do not plan to alter their schedules, including British Airways owner IAG, EasyJet, and Jet2Holidays.
On pricing, some airlines have indicated they will charge more going forward, either through higher fares or added costs for items such as hold baggage. The companies listed as planning such increases include Air France-KLM, Indigo, Pakistan International Airlines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines-Sun Express, and Virgin Atlantic.
Rory Boland, travel editor at consumer publication Which?, said cancellations should represent only a small share of the millions of flights in and out of the UK. He said changes are expected to focus on routes with multiple daily services so passengers can be moved to earlier or later departures, though some travellers may be shifted to a next-day flight, potentially disrupting holiday plans.
Airlines cannot raise the price of a ticket after it has been purchased. Low-cost Spanish regional airline Volotea has faced criticism after saying it would add a surcharge to tickets already sold, and local consumer rights groups are challenging the move.
Independent consumer commentator Jane Hawkes said a post-sale increase would only be possible if a specific caveat was included in the terms and conditions, while airlines are more likely to raise future prices, including for baggage and other add-ons.
For package holidays, Boland said tour operators can add up to 8% to the cost after booking if there is a “significant rise in fuel costs,” though Which? found most operators were promising not to add surcharges this year. If a flight is cancelled, airlines must either re-route passengers to their destination or provide a refund, and for delays of more than a couple of hours they must provide or pay for food and hotel accommodation.
However, in situations such as war or weather that are beyond an airline’s control, carriers do not have to pay compensation. ” If accommodation was booked separately, airlines are not required to cover missed days, while Boland said package holidays typically provide stronger protection, including alternatives or full refunds if an acceptable replacement cannot be offered.
Fuel supply concerns are a key driver of the price pressure. The article said much of the industry’s jet fuel supply comes from the Gulf region and most of it passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which has effectively been closed to shipping since the start of March. Airlines are not currently running short of fuel, but warnings have been issued about potential shortages by the summer if the conflict continues.
The squeeze on supply has pushed jet fuel prices sharply higher, roughly doubling during March and the first half of April, though airlines’ hedging means they may not face an immediate doubling in costs. Consultancy Teneo said the biggest fare increases have been on long-haul routes via Asia, with London-to-Melbourne flights in June costing 76% more than last year and flights to Hong Kong up 72%, as rerouting to avoid flying over the Gulf increases fuel use.
