fuel

THE closure of the Strait of Hormuz has resulted in the soaring price of jet fuel, which had led to fears of shortages across Europe.

Now, easyJet has issued an update for its passengers with growing fears that holidays could be affected from mid-May.

Javier Gándara, easyJet CEO for Spain and Portugal, has said that while the airline is continuing to operate as planned now, beyond three or four weeks and it’s “difficult to see” what will happen.

The three-week warning means easyJet passengers could face disruption from as soon as May 12.

However, Mr Gándara then added: “In Spain, we are in a comparatively better situation than neighbouring countries for two reasons.

“Firstly, because of all the crude oil that is imported and then refined here, only 11 per cent comes from the Middle East, which is the percentage affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz; the remaining 89 per cent comes from elsewhere.”

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But he did warn that “if there are problems in other countries, that ends up affecting flights to Spain.”

And said “no one will be immune to potential supply problems.”

This comes after a warning was issued by TUI yesterday.

The travel giant said it is “monitoring” jet fuel shortages as a result of the Iran war, for all passengers flying from May 1.

On social media, one worried traveller asked the airline: “With the reported jet fuel shortages are you expecting holidays from May 1 to be affected?”

TUI responded: “We’re closely monitoring the developing situation in the Middle East and its potential impact on global aviation fuel supplies.

“At present, we’re not anticipating any immediate disruption to our flight schedules or holiday programmes from fuel shortages.“

The holiday chaos is caused from the ongoing Iran-US conflict with warnings that Europe could face jet fuel shortages due to the Strait of Hormuz remaining closed.

It was revealed earlier this month that airports could run out of jet fuel within weeks.

The ACI Europe, which represents European airports, said the key trade route must open within three weeks or fuel reserves will run drastically low.

As a result, a number of major airlines have been cancelling flights in preparation for shortages.

United Airlines said that five per cent of flights would be cancelled in the second and third quarters of 2026.

SAS was the first major airline in Europe to axe flights because of of the cost of fuel going up.

Dutch airline KLM has cancelled 160 flights for the coming month, but has said it will affect less than 1 per cent of its schedule.

Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific has confirmed that two per cent of passenger flights will be cancelled from May 16 to June 30.

Air New Zealand announced in March that it will be cutting back on flights over the next two months.

And Norse announced it would remove all flights from London Gatwick to LA.

Others, like Virgin Atlantic as well as Air France and KLM have added surcharge to tickets to offset the rising price in jet fuel.

What does this mean for your upcoming holiday?

1. How will this affect my holiday?

Getaways should not be seriously impacted immediately as airlines bought fuel far in advance at a fixed rate.

But if the crisis continues into June, operators may start adding a surcharge to holiday prices.

A limited number of flights may be cancelled, but mostly on well-served routes with alternatives.

If supplies start to dry up, cancellations would increase.

2. Am I entitled to a refund?

IF some or all of your holiday is cancelled by the provider, your refund depends on whether you booked your trip as a package holiday, or individually.

Your money tends to be much better protected with a package deal.

3. Is now a bad time to book?

There are some great deals, but book with caution.

You must take out travel insurance as, if your flight is cancelled, you may have protection against the cost of other elements of your holiday, such as accommodation.

Despite the chaos, Egypt resorts have dropped prices by 70 per cent with mega cheap all-inclusive deals – as Brit avoid it.

And if you’re anxious that your flight will be cancelled, here’s what to expect this summer.

The warning comes at a time of global turmoil

Ryanair has issued a warning to passengers hoping to fly in the days ahead. The budget airline has sent emails to travellers flying from the UK to large parts of Europe.

It cautions of ‘longer queues, particularly at busy airports’. The reason is the new Entry and Exit System (EES), which has been rolled out by the European Union (EU). It requires all travellers from the UK and other non-EU nations to be photographed and fingerprinted at EU airports and border crossings.

The objective is for the new system to replace manual passport stamping and more efficiently track the 90-day visa-free limit, but there have been accounts of it causing delays stretching to several hours at busy airports. It has even been temporarily suspended at times to clear the backlog.

In a message to customers titled ‘Important: Changes to Passport Control’, Ryanair says: “From 10 April 2026, the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is in place at all Schengen Area external borders. As a result, passport control may take longer for some passengers.

“You are affected if you hold a non‐EU / non‐EEA / non‐Swiss passport (e.g. UK, USA, Canada, Australia), and are flying into or out of the Schengen Area.

“Commonly affected routes include flights between the Schengen Area and countries such as: UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Türkiye, Egypt, Israel and others.

“At passport control you may need to:

• Scan your passport
• Provide fingerprints
• Have a facial image taken

These checks may cause longer queues, particularly at busy airports. Queues may form before security.

If affected, please:

• Arrive at the airport early to allow for queues
• Have your travel documents ready
• Follow signs marked EES / Passport Control

Those who are not affected:

• EU, EEA and Swiss passport holders
• Flights within the Schengen Area (e.g. Spain–Italy, France–Germany)

“If you are denied entry, this will be due to EU policy, not Ryanair’s rules.”

Greece has reportedly opted to pause the EES rollout following considerable delays. A statement on the Greek Embassy website and posts across official social media channels said: “In the framework of the implementation of the Entry/Exit System, as of 10 April 2026, British passport holders are exempt from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points.”

Airport representatives and the European Commission convened a meeting on Tuesday to address issues surrounding the system. Approximately 122 passengers were left stranded and unable to board their flight from Milan Linate to Manchester on Sunday, following severe hold-ups at passport control linked to the introduction of the EES.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has confirmed that your details will need to be re-registered every three years. A statement also warned that travellers may face longer waiting times when entering or departing a country. It states: “The European Union’s (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES) started on 12 October 2025 This is a new digital border system that has changed requirements for British citizens travelling to the Schengen area.

The countries in the Schengen area are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

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The Republic of Ireland and Cyprus are not within the Schengen area, and therefore EES is not applicable when travelling to either of these countries. If you are travelling to a country in the Schengen area for a short stay using a UK passport, you may be required to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo, when you arrive. You do not need to take any action before you arrive at the border, and there is no cost for EES registration.

EES registration is replacing the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the EU. EES may take each passenger extra time to complete so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border.

“On your first visit to the Schengen area, you may be asked to create a digital record at the port or airport on arrival. You may be asked to submit your fingerprints and have your photo taken at dedicated booths. You don’t need to provide any information before travelling to a Schengen area country. The checks may take slightly longer than previously, so be prepared to wait during busy times.”

“If you enter the Schengen area through the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel Le Shuttle at Folkestone or Eurostar, St Pancras International, any EES checks will be completed at the border, before you leave the UK. You may also be asked to provide either your fingerprint or photo when you exit the Schengen area.”

“If you frequently travel to the Schengen area for work and/or leisure purposes, you must ensure that your total stay in the Schengen area is no more than 90 days in every 180 days. You must be aware of the penalty and enforcement approach for exceeding the immigration limit in any individual Member State you plan to travel to, or through.”

Europe is facing a severe jet fuel crisis due to the Middle East conflict, with International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol warning the region has ‘maybe six weeks or so’ of jet fuel left and that flight cancellations could follow

Europe has just six weeks’ worth of jet fuel remaining due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, with major airlines grounding flights.

Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), warned that flight cancellations could follow “soon” if oil supplies continue to be restricted by the Iran war. Iran maintains a firm grip on tankers navigating through the Strait of Hormuz, with Mr Birol telling the Associated Press this is triggering “the largest energy crisis we have ever faced”.

He warned that Asian nations such as Japan, India and China, which depend heavily on Middle Eastern energy supplies, are on “the front line”, with the pressure set to “come to Europe and the Americas” shortly after.

Europe has just six weeks of fuel left, according to the IEA director. He added that if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, the knock-on effect could mean “some of the flights from city A to city B might be canceled as a result of a lack of jet fuel”.

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Which airlines are cancelling flights?

A number of airlines have warned that they might have to cancel flights if the situation continues, but the number of those that have already done so is fewer.

Swedish flag carrier SAS has said it would cancel 1,000 flights in April because of high oil and jet fuel prices, after cancelling a “couple hundred” flights in March.

United Airlines said that five per cent of flights would be cancelled in the second and third quarters of 2026, while Dutch airline KLM has cancelled 160 flights for the coming month.

South Korean airline Asiana will slash 22 flights between April and July due to the fuel cost increase.

Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific will cut some flights from mid-May until the end of June, with about 2% of its scheduled passenger flights grounded. Its budget airline HK Express is cutting around 6% of flights.

German airline group Lufthansa said it would ground 27 planes servicing its short-haul CityLine subsidiary earlier than it had planned, blaming jet fuel prices.

Vietnam Airlines plans to cancel 23 flights per week across domestic routes from April.

Air New Zealand will be cutting back on flights over the next two months, it announced in March. It is expected that 1,100 flights will be impacted.

Norse Atlantic Airways has removed all flights to Los Angeles International Airport from its summer schedule, blaming the fuel shortage.

Although major airlines including British Airways, Ryanair and easyJet have highlighted the potential impact of the fuel price rise on ticket costs and schedules, they are yet to cancel flights as a direct consequence.

However, BA is stopping its route from London Heathrow to Jeddah, although this is due to a shift in demand, according to the airline.

Last week, easyJet chief executive Kenton Jarvis sought to reassure passengers, stating that all airports the airline serves are “operating as normal”.

He continued: “We only ever in this industry have three to four weeks’ visibility (of jet fuel supplies), and that is the same as it was pre-crisis. We have visibility to the middle of May, and we have no concerns. What we’re seeing is airports and fuel suppliers working well to bring jet fuel to the airports.”

EasyJet revealed the Middle East conflict set the airline back roughly £25 million in elevated jet fuel costs last month. The Luton-based carrier said it anticipates reporting a headline pre-tax loss of between £540 million and £560 million for the six months ending in March.

The conflict has created “near-term uncertainty around fuel costs and customer demand”, easyJet revealed.

Bookings have dropped by two percentage points for the three-month periods ending in both June and September when compared with the previous year.

The alert regarding larger-than-anticipated first half losses sent easyJet shares tumbling by as much as 9% during early Thursday trading, before stabilising around 4% down.

Sparked by the Iran war and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, oil is no longer flowing out of the Middle East as it did earlier this year, which is having a major impact on the aviation industry

Holidaymakers face soaring flight prices and more expensive package breaks even if they’ve already booked because of the looming shortage of jet fuel.

Sparked by the Iran War and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, oil is no longer flowing out of the Middle East as it did earlier this year. Supplies of jet fuel built up by European countries have been severely depleted.

In general, some European countries hold several months’ worth of jet fuel inventory at a time, according to an IEA report released last week. “Every passing day that the Strait of Hormuz remains shut, Europe is edging closer to supply shortages,” said Amaar Khan, head of European jet fuel pricing at Argus Media. “The Strait accounts for around 40% of Europe’s jet fuel imports, but no jet fuel has passed the Strait since the war broke out.”

There are four main ways that the jet fuel shortage could impact British holidaymakers: rising flight prices, extra fees, cancelled flights and package break surcharges. We’ve explained each one below.

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Rising flight prices

Jet fuel — a refined kerosene-based oil product — is airlines’ biggest cost, making up about 30% of overall expenses, according to the International Air Transport Association. And jet fuel prices have roughly doubled since the war began. Shortages could start next.

Already, a number of airlines have started bumping up the cost of tickets.

Just last week, it emerged that Virgin Atlantic had increased some flight costs with an extra £50 fuel surcharge on economy-class tickets, while premium economy fares are climbing by £180 and business class by £360.

Air France and KLM fares are also going up. They are likely to cost an additional €50, bringing the fuel surcharge to €100 (£86.98) on top of the standard fare. Meanwhile, flights to the United States, Canada and Mexico could increase by €70 (£60.89), and an economy round trip could cost an extra €10 (£8.70).

If you’ve already got your flights booked, you don’t need to worry. You are not going to be asked retrospectively to pay extra on your air fare. Once you have paid, the airline will not come after you for any more cash – unless the government hikes aviation fees, which they don’t appear poised to do.

Extra fees

Many passengers will have booked their flights months in advance, before the US and Israel attacked Iran and fuel prices started rising. Because airlines can’t bump up fares that’re already booked but for which they’re now making less money, they have started looking for other ways to make a bit of extra cash.

American Airlines has said it would hike checked baggage fees by $10 (£7.40) each for the first and second checked bags and by $150 (£111) for the third checked bag on domestic and short-haul international flights. Southwest Airlines has said it will hike checked baggage fees by $10 for the first and second bags, raising costs to $45 (£33) for the first bag and $55 (£40) for the second.

As passengers often add extra luggage just before they fly, these rises could impact passengers who booked flights before the invasion.

No major European airlines have made similar changes.

Cancelled flights

Last week, International Energy Agency Director Fatih Birol said Europe has “maybe six weeks” of remaining jet fuel supplies and said the global economy faces its “largest energy crisis.”

Many major airlines have already cancelled flights because of the fuel price rises and falling demand, and more are likely to do so.

Swedish flag carrier SAS has said it would cancel 1,000 flights in April because of high oil and jet fuel prices, after cancelling a “couple hundred” flights in March. United Airlines said that five per cent of flights would be cancelled in the second and third quarters of 2026, while Dutch airline KLM has cancelled 160 flights for the coming month.

Other airlines, such as BA, have suspended whole routes to parts of the Middle East due to the conflict, while Virgin Atlantic announced earlier this month that it would be permanently scrapping its London flight to Riyadh from April.

Under UK law, if your flight is cancelled more than 14 days before it is due to depart, you are not entitled to compensation. However, your airline does have to offer you a full refund or help you find an alternative flight.

In the latter case, it’s up to you whether to fly as soon as possible after the cancelled flight, or at a later date that suits you. Although most airlines will book you onto another of their flights to the same destination, if an alternative airline is flying there significantly sooner or other suitable modes of transport are available, then you may have the right to be booked onto that alternative transport instead. You can discuss this with your airline.

Given that airfares may be significantly higher than when you booked, opting for an alternative flight rather than taking a refund may work out in your favour.

Extra package break costs

A largely overlooked clause in package holiday terms and conditions could result in the price of a package holiday increasing by hundreds of pounds – even after you’ve already made your booking and payment.

An article by Which? drew attention to the obscure clause found within Package Travel Regulations. It reveals that UK holiday companies can impose an additional charge of up to 8% on a package holiday price, without being required to provide a free cancellation option, under three specific circumstances.

These circumstances include: a destination introducing additional taxes or other charges, a significant shift in currency exchange rates, or a rise in the price of fuel or power. Given the ongoing Middle East conflict, fuel costs have been rising noticeably, which means there’s potential for package holiday operators to invoke this rule for Brits who’ve already booked their holidays should these expenses continue climbing.

April 18 (Asia Today) — Average gasoline and diesel prices at South Korean gas stations rose for a third straight week, putting both fuels on the verge of topping 2,000 won per liter.

The average nationwide gasoline price for April 12-18 stood at 1,996.3 won per liter, or about $1.36 a liter and $5.15 a gallon. That was up 28.7 won from 1,967.6 won a week earlier. Diesel averaged 1,990.2 won per liter, or about $1.36 a liter and $5.13 a gallon, up 31.1 won from the previous week.

With both fuels nearing the 2,000 won threshold, the government is set to announce its fourth maximum-price notice on Thursday. The current system partially reflects changes in global oil prices while slowing the pace of retail price increases.

By brand, SK Energy had the highest gasoline price at 2,001.8 won per liter, or about $5.16 a gallon, while self-service budget stations were the cheapest at 1,974.7 won. For diesel, SK Energy was also the highest at 1,995.2 won per liter, while budget stations posted the lowest average at 1,966.1 won.

By region, Jeju had the country’s highest average gasoline price this week at 2,029 won per liter, or about $5.23 a gallon. Seoul followed at 2,026.7 won, or about $5.23 a gallon.

International oil prices have recently eased on expectations that the conflict involving the United States and Iran could wind down. Dubai crude, the benchmark for South Korea’s imported oil, stood at $101.8 a barrel on Wednesday, down $4.7 from $106.5 on Sunday. Changes in global oil prices usually reach domestic pump prices with a two- to three-week lag.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260418010005586

MANY families looking to go on holiday this summer are worried that their plans may be spoiled by the ongoing fuel crisis caused by the war in Iran.

Those concerns were powered by the Head of the International Energy Agency Fatih Birol warning that Europe has just six weeks of jet fuel left.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Will my flight be cancelled due to the fuel shortage?

In response to US and Israeli attacks, Iran has closed off the Strait of Hormuz since February 28, a key route for jet fuel out of the Gulf.

This has caused a massive increase in oil prices and resulted in fears of jet fuel shortages.

For example, the price of jet fuel has rapidly surged from £67 ($90) per barrel to a whopping £150 ($200).

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With Birol stating there is enough for just six weeks, airports will possibly be dealing with critical fuel shortages by as early as next month.

That would cause travel chaos for Brits heading abroad during the school May half-term holidays and potentially continue into the summer.

An almost certain consequence will be the effect on journeys to long-haul destinations, as airlines may not have enough fuel for the return journey.

Which airlines have cancelled flights already?

British Airways is amongst the airlines that have begun cancelling flights as they have suspended services to the Middle East.

Journeys to the likes of Dubai and Doha have been put on pause for now and are set to resume in July.

However, the airline has announced it will permanently close its service from London Heathrow to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia from April 24, 2026.

Virgin Atlantic announced earlier this month that it has permanently scraped its London flight to Riyadh.

Other airways that have cancelled flights include:

How long will the fuel shortage last?

Sally Gethin, an aviation specialist, spoke on the matter and said the consequences could get severe if the Strait remains closed. 

She told the Daily Mail: “The best case scenario would be fares going up and some routes being cancelled. 

“The worst case scenario is if this carries on for six to eight weeks and the shortages start really biting. This could pose an existential crisis to airlines – even if they slap on fuel surcharges they still won’t recoup the cost.”

“You could be looking at tens of thousands, potentially hundreds of thousands, of flights being cancelled globally.”

How will this affect my upcoming holiday?

Holidays should not be too seriously impacted as our main tour operators and airlines have hedged their fuel essentially meaning they have purchased their fuel far in advance at a fixed rate.

What could happen, however, is if the jet fuel crisis continues into June, tour operators could potentially start to add a surcharge to the price of holidays.

A limited number of flights may be cancelled but airlines and tour operators will attempt to minimise disruptions by focusing on routes where they have multiple daily flights.

Holidays would only be cancelled if the fco advises against travel to the destination.

This is highly unlikely to happen with any Med destination because there are no safety concerns right now in popular holiday resorts.

However if fuel supplies fall into short supply in Europe this could possibly impact flights and therefore your holiday.

Am I entitled to a refund?

If some or all parts of your getaway are cancelled by the provider, your rights to a refund depend entirely on whether you booked your trip as a package holiday (purchasing accommodation and flights, or car hire, together) or individually.

Your money tends to be much better protected with a package getaway and in this circumstance you will be offered either an alternative holiday or a refund.

So, is now a bad time to book?

There are some great deals to be had right now, just approach with caution.

It is vital that you take out travel insurance as if your flight is cancelled you may well have protection against the cost of other elements of your holiday such as accommodation or transfers.

If you’re looking at booking now, Europe is a very safe option.

Although the likes of Turkey and Cyprus in the eastern med have seen bookings drop, there is currently no reason for you not to visit them.

They’re on the safe list and currently have some great deals.

Always book travel insurance the minute you book your holiday and check the policy carefully.

The global air travel crisis has spread further as Lufthansa and KLM became the latest airlines to announce flights axed to and from major destinations, including London Heathrow

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled by two major airlines amid warnings Europe has just a “few weeks” of jet fuel left.

Germany’s flag carrier airline Lufthansa is suspending its CityLine services from tomorrow, including flights to and from London, in response to rocketing kerosene costs and an ongoing trade union dispute. Netherlands’ KLM meanwhile confirmed it had cancelled 160 flights over the next month, as the industry grapples with an ‘unprecedented’ oil shock triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

It comes after the head of the world ’s energy watchdog has warned that Europe only has six weeks’ supply of jet fuel because of the Middle East conflict.

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Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), warned there could be flight cancellations “soon” if oil supplies remain restricted by the war, with Iran and the US jostling for control for the vital Strait of Hormuz waterway.

Mr Birol said the conflict is causing “the largest energy crisis” the world has “ever faced”, with Asian nations such as Japan, India and China that rely on energy from the Middle East currently on “the front line”. But he warned that the impact would then “come to Europe and the Americas”, likely as soon as late May. Tourists are encouraged to continue to check before they travel.

Lufthansa’s CityLine services, which fly to a number of destinations across Europe including London, Paris, Frankfurt, Florence, Kraków, Stockholm and Copenhagen, will be cancelled from Saturday. Multiple daily services from Heathrow have already been pulled from the schedule.

A statement from Lufthansa last night said: “In view of significantly increased kerosene prices, which have more than doubled compared to the period before the Iran war, as well as rising additional burdens from labour disputes, the implementation of the corporate strategy is being partially accelerated.

“As a first, immediately effective step, starting the day after tomorrow, the 27 operational aircraft of Lufthansa Cityline will be permanently removed from the schedule to reduce further losses at the loss-making airline.”

Ongoing strikes by pilots and cabin crew belonging to German trade unions have already grounded approximately 90% of all Lufthansa Group flights on the worst days this week, with cancellations reported at Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Newcastle, and Glasgow.

KLM announced “a number of adjustments to its flight schedule for the coming month” on routes which are “no longer financially viable to operate”. The Dutch airline said this was due “rising kerosene costs”, adding: “There is no kerosene shortage.”

Meanwhile, schedule data published by AeroRoutes this week showed that Norse Airlines has cancelled bookings for its planned Los Angeles flights this summer from London Gatwick, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Rome Fiumicino.

Jet prices have more than doubled since the beginning of the Iran war on February 28, causing the largest wave of cancellations at many major international airports since the Covid pandemic.

OFFICIALS have warned that there is just weeks of jet fuel supplies left before airlines start running out.

Earlier this week, the head of the International Energy Agency warned that vital supplies remain blocked by conflict in Iran – as a result, many airlines have already started axing routes.

The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is holding up major supply chains which has led to a huge hike in fuel costs – and shortages.

ACI Europe, which represents European airports, said the key trade route must open within three weeks or fuel reserves will run drastically low.

In response, a number of major airlines have been cancelling flights in preparation for shortages – with thousands affected.

Here are the major eight airlines that have already cut back on their routes…

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United Airlines

United Airlines said that five per cent of flights would be cancelled in the second and third quarters of 2026.

With up to 5,000 flights a month – working out to around 4,000 domestic and 800 international routes – this means it affects around 250 flights a month.

United Airlines has the world’s largest airline fleet with more than 1,075 aircraft.

Scandinavian Airlines

SAS was the first major airline in Europe to axe flights because of of the cost of fuel going up.

It said in mid-March that it would cancel 1,000 flights throughout April.

Lufthansa

Lufthansa‘s subsidiary airline CityLine is to cease operations due to both the Iran crisis and ongoing strike action.

The division ran business flights between European airports but will ground its entire fleet of 27 aircraft. 

Flight routes typically connected London to Frankfurt and Munich.

It will also cut six planes from its international fleet after the summer holiday season, warning that the cutbacks could last into winter.

KLM

Dutch airline KLM has cancelled 160 flights for the coming month, but has said it will affect less than 1 per cent of its schedule

The airline insists there is no shortage of jet fuel, saying the move is purely down to spiralling costs.

A KLM spokesperson said: “Passengers affected by these changes will be rebooked onto the next available flight.

“KLM expects a busy May holiday period and is making sure passengers can travel to their holiday destinations as planned.”

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific has confirmed that two per cent of passenger flights will be cancelled from May 16 to June 30.

This will affect a number of regional routes, as well as longer-haul connections to destinations across Australia and South Asia.

Its budget airline HK Express is set to cut six per cent of flights due to increased costs.

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand announced in March that it will be cutting back on flights over the next two months.

Chief Executive of Air New Zealand Nikhil Ravishankar said the airline would see roughly a five per cent reduction in its services which would continue until the beginning of May 2026.

This reduction equates to around 1,100 flights which in turn will affect 44,000 passengers out of its 1.9million.

Norse

Norse Atlantic Airways has removed all flights to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) from its summer schedule.

A spokesperson said: “Due to the continued increase in fuel constraint risks, fuel prices, and the resulting impact on our operating costs, we have had to make the difficult decision to suspend our LAX operations this summer, May to October.”

Norse operated a summer route from London Gatwick to LA.

British Airways

British Airways will drop its service from London Heathrow to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia permanently from April 24, 2026.

The airline had been operating a four flights a week service since November 2024.

BA said the terminating of the service was due to a shift in demand rather than fuel costs as hasn’t axed any flights because of that so far.

Virgin Airways

Virgin Atlantic announced earlier this month that it would be permanently scrapping its London flight to Riyadh from April 7, 2026.

It said some of the reasons were the “evolving situation in the Middle East” and “operating costs.”

Here’s why you should book your summer holiday now – easyJet boss says.

And here are the European holiday destinations Brits are flocking to instead of Turkey and Egypt due to Iran crisis.

The airline responded to a passenger who asked for an update on upcoming flights

TUI has shared a message to passengers worried about possible ‘fuel shortages’. The travel company issued advice on social media, responding to a customer with concerns.

The update comes as experts have warned Europe could face jet fuel shortages if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened in the coming weeks. Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, the trade body for European airports, previously said: “At this stage, we understand that if the passage through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume in any significant and stable way within the next three weeks, systemic jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality for the EU.

“The fact that we are entering the peak summer season… is only adding to those concerns.” On Thursday, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned Europe has “maybe six weeks of jet fuel left”.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has also said disruption could begin in May. He previously told Sky News: “Fuel suppliers are constantly looking at the market.

“We don’t expect any disruption until early May, but if the war continues, we do run the risk of supply disruptions in Europe in May and June, and we hope the war will finish sooner than that and the risk to supply will be eliminated.”

In response to the developments, a TUI passenger contacted the airline on X to ask if it could share an update for any flights booked after May 1. The social media user wrote: “TUIUK, with the reported jet fuel shortages, are you expecting holidays from May 1st to be affected?”

Replying to the message on April 16, a customer service team member answered on behalf of the airline. She wrote: “Hey, we’re closely monitoring the developing situation in the Middle East and its potential impact on global aviation fuel supplies.

“At present, we’re not anticipating any immediate disruption to our flight schedules or holiday programmes from fuel shortages.”

Other airlines have faced similar questions from passengers. In an X post shared with easyJet Holidays last week, a customer asked: “How concerned should we be that, given the potential aviation fuel shortages from end May, that our July flights Gatwick Bordeaux will be cancelled? Do you have surety of supply from Canada for example?”

In a response on April 10, an employee told the passenger they would be notified if any changes were made to the booking. easyJet Holidays said: “Hi there, thanks for reaching out. We do appreciate your concerns.

“Please be assured, we are monitoring the situation closely and if there were to be any changes to your booking at all, our dedicated pre-travel team would be in touch to advise on your options.”

RISING fuel costs linked to the war in Iran have forced a major airline to slash more than 100 flights – including services to and from London.

Dutch company KLM is axing 160 flights across Europe over the next month as soaring fuel prices pile pressure on the industry ahead of the busy summer period.

The cuts will hit routes in and out of Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, with departures and arrivals split evenly .

Despite the disruption, the airline insists there is no shortage of jet fuel, saying the move is purely down to spiralling costs.

A KLM spokesperson said: “Passengers affected by these changes will be rebooked onto the next available flight.

“As these are destinations KLM serves multiple times a day, such as London and Düsseldorf, travellers can usually be accommodated quickly.

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“KLM expects a busy May holiday period and is making sure passengers can travel to their holiday destinations as planned.”

KLM’s flight cancellations comes after the head of the International Energy Agency Fatih Birol said mass flight cancellations will begin “soon” if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.

“In the past there was a group called ‘Dire Straits.’ It’s a dire strait now, and it is going to have major implications for the global economy”, Birol told AP.

Adding: “And the longer it goes, the worse it will be for the economic growth and inflation around the world.”

Birol’s deadline means airports could face critical fuel shortages by May, causing travel chaos for Brits heading abroad during the school May half-term holidays.

Oil prices have soared since the start of March after Iran closed off the Strait in response to US-Israeli forces bombing.

The Persian Gulf chokehold sees around 40 per cent of the world’s jet fuel supply pass through.

It comes after ACI Europe, which represents European airports, said the key trade route must open within three weeks or fuel reserves will run drastically low on Friday.

A number of airports in Italy have already warned that they were running out of fuel.

According to local reports earlier this week, Brindisi-Casale Airport confirmed that Jet A1 fuel was not available for a short period of time.

And British Airways has announced it will permanently axe its service from London Heathrow to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia from April 24.

The airline had been operating a four flights a week service since November 2024.

But a shift in demand, due to the conflict in the Middle East, has led to the airline terminating the service.

KLM stressed the cancellations make up just one per cent of its European schedule.

But the move will still spark concern for Brits planning trips abroad as airlines battle rising operating costs.

It comes as carriers across Europe scramble to balance the books amid the fuel crisis.

Earlier this month, UK airline Skybus pulled the plug on all future flights between London Gatwick and Newquay.

The route, which launched in November 2025, had been backed by Cornwall Council and the Department for Transport under a public service scheme due to run until the end of May.

However, a slump in passenger numbers combined with higher fuel costs forced the airline to ground the service early, with its final flights taking off on April 2.

The latest cuts raise fresh fears of further disruption for holidaymakers as the peak summer season approaches.

Meanwhile other vital UK services could also face shortages if a deal to end the Middle East war is not struck soon.

Medicines UK, which represents companies making 85 per cent of NHS prescriptions, said NHS patients could face prescription shortages within weeks.

This could place “significant pressure for the NHS as early as June”, the organisation warned.

And Brits could even face shortages of supermarket staples such as beer and meat as officials fear the blockade of the Strait could cut vital carbon dioxide supplies.

CO2 is used in food packaging to improve the shelf life of salad, packaged meats and baked goods – and also slaughtering nearly all pigs and most chickens.

Tim Lang, professor of food policy at the University of London, who has been a member of several government bodies including the UK Council of Food Policy Advisors, told The Sun that the UK has “next to no food storage”.

The high-powered Indy cars that will be racing in Sunday’s Grand Prix of Long Beach will burn about two gallons of fuel on each of their 90 trips around the tight 1.968-mile street course.

So if all 27 cars that start the race also finish it, the field will use 4,860 gallons of fuel. And that doesn’t include the fuel used in qualifying or in the other five classifications of cars that will be participating in the three days of racing in Long Beach.

That’s a lot of fuel for drivers who will end up in the same place they started, especially when seven weeks of war in the Middle East has driven the price of gasoline to record highs. However, the fuel the IndyCar series uses differs significantly from what that comes out of the pump at the gas station.

“This year marks the fourth season that IndyCar has used 100% renewable race fuel for the NTT IndyCar Series — the first motorsport series in North America to utilize this type of fuel,” an IndyCar spokesperson wrote in a statement. “Developed through a collaboration with Shell, this innovative fuel consists of a blend of second-generation ethanol derived from sugarcane waste and other biofuels mainly derived from animal waste. The use of this renewable race fuel enables a 60% reduction in life cycle greenhouse gas emissions.”

So while driving Indy cars 177 miles in a circle may seem wasteful during a gas crunch, Sunday’s race will have a negligible affect on the price and availability of fuel at service stations. The greater impact will be made by fans driving to Long Beach; last year’s three-day race weekend drew more than 200,000 people.

As airlines grapple with the soaring jet fuel prices and global shortage due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, two more have been forced to increase their prices for passengers

Due to the escalating fuel crisis sparked by the Middle East conflict, two more airlines have been forced to raise their prices.

Air travel has been severely disrupted with cancelled routes and a sharp rise in jet fuel prices since US-Israeli strikes erupted on February 28, 2026. The situation was further heightened by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20 per cent of the world’s oil and gas passes, triggering a global shortage.

As a result, airlines have been grappling with rising jet fuel costs and have been forced to raise prices. Air France and KLM are the latest airlines to confirm they’ve had to increase ticket prices as a result.

READ MORE: Major European airport issues ‘arrive early’ alert for all passengers amid delaysREAD MORE: EasyJet boss warns of summer price hike after £25million hit from jet fuel costs

The airlines, which are part of the same company Air France–KLM, had previously added a surcharge last month to offset soaring jet fuel prices. At the time, economy fares were bumped up by an extra €50 (£43.47) for a round trip, reported The Sun.

Now, with another increase announced, a long-haul round trip with Air France or KLM could cost an additional €50, bringing the fuel surcharge to €100 (£86.98) on top of the standard fare. Meanwhile, flights to the United States, Canada and Mexico could increase by €70 (£60.89), and an economy round-trip could cost an extra €10 (£8.70).

The Mirror has contacted Air France and KLM for comment.

Air France and KLM aren’t the only airlines to raise prices amid the ongoing fuel crisis. Just this week, it emerged that Virgin Atlantic had increased some flight costs with an extra £50 fuel surcharge on economy-class tickets, while premium economy fares are climbing by £180 and business class by £360.

Virgin Atlantic Chief Executive, Corneel Koster, warned travellers that flight prices could climb in the coming months and potentially throughout the remainder of the year. He said: “We have never seen jet fuel at this level and airlines cannot sustain those sorts of high costs.”

“If the fuel price goes much higher, I think the surcharges may go higher. If they go up in a week and you book in two weeks’ time, you’ll be paying higher.”

While there are no fuel shortages at present, Koster acknowledged it was impossible to guarantee supplies in the months ahead. “We have contracts with multiple suppliers who have a wide range of diversity of where the jet fuel comes from,” he explained.

“We have good visibility and no concern for the coming one to two months – certainly for the remainder of April and May. Beyond that I have less visibility, but that is quite normal.”

Meanwhile, it’s also been reported that airlines, such as JetBlue, have increased luggage fees in a bid to offset the soaring fuel costs. For off-peak economy fares, bags are expected to cost $4 more (£2.95), jumping to $39 (£28.79), while peak economy fares are set to be $49 (£36.17).

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A major fire at a key refinery in Australia refinery has disrupted fuel production, raising fears of shortages as supplies are already strained by the Iran war.