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All the airlines adding extra charges and cancelling flights amid the jet fuel shortage as easyJet boss warns there’s just ‘three weeks’ left

The cost of jet fuel has doubled since the conflict in the Middle East started and with the Strait of Hormuz still closed, the situation is continuing to become more tricky to navigate. 

Javier Gándara, the country director for easyJet’s southern Europe, recently told the Majorca Daily Bulletin that it is ‘difficult’ to predict exactly how bad the problem will be after ‘three or four weeks’.

He went on to stress that ‘no one will be immune to potential supply problems’.

As a result of the ongoing situation, some airlines have even been forced to add extra surcharges onto their fares as well as cancelling flights. 

Read on below to see which airlines have been impacted and how. 

KLM and Air France announced they would be increasing their fares for the second time due to the rising cost of jet fuel

Meanwhile, easyJet’s boss has warned holidaymakers to book flights ‘as early as possible’ to avoid price jumps if the price of oil stays high

Aegean Airlines

Greek carrier Aegean Airlines has suspended flights to the Middle East and predicts that, plus the surge in fuel prices, will have a ‘notable impact’ on its next results.

AirAsia X

Some 10 per cent of the Malaysian airline’s flights were cut, according to executives, and the carrier has experienced a surcharge of around 20 per cent on its fuel.

Air France-KLM

Earlier this month, KLM and Air France announced they would be increasing their fares for the second time due to the rising cost of jet fuel. 

Previously, economy fares were increased by €50 (£43.47) for a round trip, according to The Sun. 

But last week, Air France-KLM announced they would be increasing fares again. Many of the company’s long-haul round trips will see another another €50 – totalling to €100 (£87).

Meanwhile, a round economy route will be increased by €10 (£8.69) and routes to America, Mexico and Canada will see a €70 (£60.85) rise. 

Air India

The Indian airline has said it would revise its fuel surcharge from a flat domestic surcharge to a distance-based grid. 

This is due to surcharges on international routes not compensating for an exponential rise in jet fuel prices. 

Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON)

Last week, Nigerian airlines warned they may have to temporarily stop flights from April 20 due to the price of jet fuel, but this was prevented after the government stepped in to help, the Independent reports. 

The AON stated: ‘Rising from an emergency meeting held this evening, the Airline Operators of Nigeria has reached a concessionary but conditional decision to temporarily suspend its earlier planned shutdown action.’ 

But, this agreement is only conditional on the outcome of a meeting with officials set to take place tomorrow, April 22.  

Air New Zealand 

Earlier this month, Air New Zealand said it would slash flights through May and June and hike fares. 

It was also one of the first to confirm broad price increases when the war began.

Akasa Air

Akasa Air, based in India, revealed it was introducing a fuel surcharge ranging between 199 and 1,300 Indian rupees (£2 to £10) on domestic and international flights. 

Alaska Air

Alaska Air has said it would be increasing fees for the first checked bag by $5 (£4) and by $10 (£7) for the second on its North American flights.

The US airline has also applied the same increase to its Hawaiian Airlines unit. It increased prices for a third checked bag from $50 (£37) to $200 (£148). 

American Airlines

American Airlines revealed it would hike checked baggage fees by $10 (£7) each for the first and second checked bags.

Meanwhile, the third checked bag would be increased by $150 (£111). This applies to domestic and short-haul international flights. 

The airline also trimmed certain benefits for economy passengers.

Asiana Airlines

Based in South Korea, Asiana Airlines is reportedly slashing 22 flights between April and July, according to Liverpool Echo. 

Checked baggage fees for American Airlines have been hiked by $10 (£7) each for the first and second checked bags

British Airways

Back in March, British Airways revealed it did not plan to increase ticket prices immediately, as it has hedged much of its fuel for the short-to medium-term.

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific said it would cut some of its flights from mid-May until the end of June. This would mean around two per cent of its scheduled passenger flights would be impacted.  

The company’s budget airline HK Express is cutting around six per cent of flights. 

Meanwhile, the carrier previously said it would hike its fuel surcharge by 34 per cent across routes from April 1 and review them every two weeks.

Cebu Air

Cebu Air, based in the Philippines, has raised concern over the surge in fuel prices and noted it would be reviewing its pricing and strategies to keep an eye on the impact.  

China Eastern Airlines

From April 5, China Eastern Airlines said it would raise fuel surcharges for domestic flights.

Flights of 800km and below would be hit with a 60 yuan (£6) surcharge and a 120 yuan (£13) surcharge for flights over 800km. 

Delta Air Lines

Delta said it would cut capacity by around 3.5 per cent from its original plan and raise fees for checked bags in an attempt to offset soaring jet fuel costs, with an increase of $10 (£7) on the price of first and second checked bags and a $50 (£37) increase on the third checked bag. 

The US airline pulled all planned capacity growth for the current quarter and forecast profit below Wall Street expectations.

easyJet

Last month, easyJet’s CEO Kenton Jarvis warned holidaymakers to book flights ‘as early as possible’ to avoid price jumps if the price of oil stays high. 

Customers were also warned to expect higher ticket prices towards the end of summer, when existing fuel hedges come to an end. 

A spokesperson for the airline recently told the Daily Mail it was ‘focussed on keeping fares low’ and it has ‘no plans to introduce surcharges’. 

Greater Bay Airlines

The airline has suspended many of its flights between Hong Kong and Bangkok between May 12 and September 22, due to a rise in fuel  prices, according to South China Morning Post. 

The company said: ‘Due to the continued rise in fuel prices and the constantly changing market environment, and based on business considerations, Greater Bay Airlines has made short-term adjustments to services on certain routes.

‘We will proactively contact the affected passengers and make appropriate arrangements to minimise any inconvenience caused to them. Greater Bay Airlines sincerely apologises to the affected passengers.’

It also said it would raise fuel surcharges on most routes from April 1, while keeping them unchanged on mainland China and Japan routes. 

Its surcharge for flights between Hong Kong and the Philippines will more than double. 

British Airways previously revealed it did not plan to increase ticket prices immediately, as it has hedged much of its fuel for the short-to medium-term

Cathay Pacific said it would cut some of its flights from mid-May until the end of June

Hong Kong Airlines

Hong Kong Airines has reacted by raising  fuel surcharges by up to 35% from March 12.

The sharpest increase was seen on flights between Hong Kong and the Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal, where charges would rise to HK$384 (£36) from HK$284 (£27). 

Indigo 

India’s biggest airline said it would introduce fuel charges on domestic and international flights from March 14, including a charge of 900 rupees (£7) for flights to the Middle East and a charge of 2,300 rupees (£18) for flights to Europe. 

Jetblue Airways 

The US-based low-cost carrier said it was increasing fees for optional services such as checked baggage as it experiences ‘rising operating costs’. Baggage prices will rise by either $4 (£3) or $9 (£7), it said.

Korean Air

The South Korean flag carrier will enter emergency management mode from April, as rising oil prices weigh on costs, a source told Reuters. 

The airline plans to implement phased response measures based on oil price levels, and step up company-wide cost efficiency to offset surging fuel costs. 

Lufthansa

German carrier Lufthansa said this week that a regional subsidiary, Lufthansa CityLine, would suspend operations from last Saturday due to high kerosene prices and labour disputes.

Norse Atlantic

The Norwegian airline has reportedly scrapped its route from London Gatwick to Los Angeles because of increasing fuel prices. 

Pakistan International Airlines 

Domestic flight prices were increased by $20 (£14.80) by Pakistan International Airlines.

Meanwhile, its international fares rose by $100 (£74).

Qantas Airways

Australia’s Qantas revealed it would slash domestic capacity over the next two months and likely raise airfares as soaring fuel prices threaten a $500million (£370million) hit to full-year profit.

‘Given the continued volatility in fuel prices and the global economic conditions, (Qantas Group) has reduced domestic capacity in (the fourth quarter of the 2026 financial year) by around 5 percentage points,’ a statement released earlier this month said.

‘Affected Qantas and Jetstar customers are being contacted directly and offered alternative flights or a refund.’

SAS

The Scandinavian airline 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. 

SAS, which had already increased flight prices, said that even if it tried to absorb the rising fuel costs, the price surge would still be a blow to the aviation industry.

Spring Airlines

The budget Chinese airline said it would raise fuel surcharges on domestic flights from April 5.

Southwest Airlines

The American carrier has hiked checked baggage fees by $10 (£7) for the first and second bags, raising costs to $45 (£33) for the first bag and $55 (£41) for the second.

Australia’s Qantas revealed it would slash domestic capacity over the next two months and likely raise airfares as soaring fuel prices threaten a $500million (£370million) hit to full-year profit

TAP

The Portuguese airline said its price hikes would partially mitigate the impact of fuel price changes on its revenue. 

Thai Airways

The Thailand-based carrier said it would raise fares by 10 per cent to 15 per cent to address rising fuel costs.

SunExpress

SunExpress, a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, said it would impose a temporary fuel surcharge of €10 (£9) per passenger from May 1 on routes between Turkey and Europe. The surcharge will apply to bookings made on or after April 1 for departures on or after May 1.

T’Way Air

The South Korean low-cost carrier said on April 13 it plans to furlough some of its cabin crew without pay in May and June as part of its measures to address the impact of the war in the Middle East. 

United Airlines

The US airline is cutting unprofitable flights over the next two quarters as it prepares for oil prices to remain above $100 (£74) until the end of 2027.

CEO Scott Kirby said. United has raised fares without materially hurting bookings in response to the rapid increase in oil and jet fuel prices, its Chief Commercial Officer said. 

The carrier is also increasing first and second checked bag fees by $10 (£7) for customers travelling in the US, Mexico and Canada and Latin America, it said.

Vietjet

 The Vietnamese budget airline said it had adjusted flight frequency on selected routes due to potential fuel shortages.

Vietnam Airlines

The carrier plans to cancel 23 flights per week across domestic routes from April, Vietnam’s aviation authority said, after the airline requested government assistance to remove an environmental tax on jet fuel.

Virgin Atlantic

The airline is adding fuel surcharges to fares but will still struggle to return to profitability this year, its CEO Corneel Koster told the Financial Times.

Virgin Australia 

Virgin Australia said it was adjusting fares to reflect rising cost pressures across the aviation sector, which it said were being significantly exacerbated by the situation in the Middle East.

The US airline is cutting unprofitable flights over the next two quarters as it prepares for oil prices to remain above $100 (£74) until the end of 2027

Volotea

Volotea, has reportedly been pushed to demand extra fees from some passengers after they have booked and paid for their flight. 

The budget airline apparently added a small fuel surcharge and asked travellers, who had already covered their costs, to pay in an email, according to Simple Flying. 

Some people online claimed they were asked to cough up between $8 to $11 (£5.90 to £8.10). The airline seems to be using a clause in its conditions of carriage – reportedly referred to as its ‘Fair Price Promise’.

Volotea’s website has a ‘Fuel Cost Adjustment’ clause listed under section four, Prices, of its conditions of carriage. 

The clause outlines how passengers will have been informed of the possibility of a price change during the booking process and explains how rising fuel prices are the cause. 

A spokesperson for Volotea told the Daily Mail: ‘The airline has chosen not to introduce arbitrary fixed fuel surcharges, instead adopting an innovative approach that combines flexibility, fairness, freedom of choice, and transparency.’

Westjet

The Canadian airline is set to add a C$60 (£32) fuel surcharge to some bookings and combine flights as costs soar. 



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