Airline has responded to passenger concerns about their summer holidays 2026 amid jet fuel shortage warnings linked to the Middle East conflict
10:37, 20 Apr 2026Updated 15:42, 20 Apr 2026
Passengers are worried about the potential impact of jet fuel shortages on their holidays(Image: Getty Images)
Airline Jet2 has responded to passengers’ concerns about their summer holidays from this June amid rocketing prices and potential jet fuel shortages. Last week, the head of the world’s energy watchdog warned that Europe has only six weeks’ worth of jet fuel remaining due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), cautioned that flight cancellations could occur “soon” if oil supplies continue to be restricted by the Iran war. Iran maintains a firm grip on tankers navigating the Strait of Hormuz and launched attacks on several vessels over the weekend.
Mr Birol told the Associated Press that the situation is causing “the largest energy crisis we have ever faced”. Europe has “maybe six weeks or so (of) jet fuel left”, he 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 June amidst the uncertainty over fuel – and pledged people would be contacted directly if changes need to be made.
One wrote about what was happening from June: “@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.”
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.”
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.”
Should the Strait of Hormuz remain closed, the consequences for Europe could mean “some of the flights from city A to city B might be cancelled as a result of lack of jet fuel”, Mr Birol added. Earlier on Thursday, easyJet chief executive Kenton Jarvis confirmed that all airports the carrier 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.” Holidaymakers with bookings have been turning to social media to voice their concerns directly to Jet2.
One said: “@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 added: “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.” A UK traveller said: “you guys aren’t planning on last minute flight cancellations due to potential jet fuel shortages are you? Family holiday booked in May FYI”
Jet2 replied: “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”
Javier Gándara, easyJet’s CEO for Spain and Portugal, was in Mallorca for the reopening of the airline’s base in Palma when he gave his assessment of the current fuel supply situation on Sunday: “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.
“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 set in as early as May. Speaking to Sky News, he said: “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.”