Jet2 passengers have contacted the airline concerned about their booked holidays (Image: Getty)
Airline Jet2 has addressed passenger concerns regarding holidays from the start of May amid rocketing prices and potential jet fuel shortages. Last week, the head of the world’s energy watchdog cautioned that Europe has only six weeks’ worth of jet fuel remaining due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), warned that flight cancellations could occur “soon” if oil supplies remain restricted by the Iran war. Iran continues to maintain a stranglehold on tankers navigating through the Strait of Hormuz, having fired upon several over the weekend.
Mr Birol told the Associated Press that this is triggering “the largest energy crisis we have ever faced”. Europe has “maybe six weeks or so (of) jet fuel left”, he cautioned.
Should the Strait of Hormuz remain closed, the consequences for Europe could mean that “some of the flights from city A to city B might be cancelled as a result of lack of jet fuel”, he further warned.
Worried holidaymakers have been taking to social media to contact Jet2 over their concerns. And Jet2 has responded to passengers who asked about holidays from the start of May amidst the uncertainty over fuel – and pledged people would be contacted directly if changes need to be made.
A UK traveller asked about travel from May 1: “You guys aren’t planning on last minute flight cancellations due to potential jet fuel shortages are you? Family holiday booked in May FYI.”
One wrote: “@jet2tweets Hi there – we are looking to go away for a week to Malaga in June and want to know how concerned we should be about the reporting of lack of airport fuel and what happens to our holiday should something like this happen and impact our holiday. Can you help…?|”
Another posted: “Are holidays going ahead as usual? We’ve booked an all inclusive 10 day to Crete in June. I’m worried about jet fuel prices.”
In response, Jet2 replied about travel from May 1 and into June: “Hi all flights are planned to go ahead as normal. If anything were to change regarding your booking, we would be sure to reach out to you directly to make you aware, and discuss the options available to you. Thanks”
A TUI passenger asked the airline if it has any updates for people with holidays booked from May 1. The customer said: “TUIUK, with the reported jet fuel shortages, are you expecting holidays from May 1st to be affected?”
However, a customer service team member assured the passenger that no immediate disruption is anticipated. Replying to the message on April 16, TUIUK said: “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.”
easyJet’s CEO for Spain and Portugal, Javier Gándara, spoke at the reopening of the airline’s base in Palma, Mallorca, yesterday (Sunday), offering his take on the current fuel supply situation. “What the producers and airports are telling us is that there won’t be any supply problems for the next three or four weeks. Beyond that, it’s difficult to see. 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% comes from the Middle East, which is the percentage affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz; the remaining 89% comes from elsewhere.”
He went on to warn: “No one will be immune to potential supply problems. Ships that leave and pass through the Strait of Hormuz and come to Europe take an average of 45 days, and they have already been practically out of service for two months. It will take time to recover all of that. It’s difficult to know what will happen, so we’ll react as we go.”
Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary has similarly warned that disruption could begin as early as May, telling 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.”