EasyJet has issued a May update to customers with summer holiday bookings amid fears flights could be cancelled due to potential jet fuel shortages.
The budget confirmed in a statement to passengers last week that it is not experiencing any disruption to its fuel supply and all flights and package holidays are continuing to operate “as normal”. EasyJet reassured customers that it is not making any changes to bookings or cancelling any flights in response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has resulted in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz – a key oil shipping route.
Despite the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) warning last month that Europe has “maybe six weeks” of jet fuel left if the route remains closed, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has stressed there is “no current need” for passengers to change their travel plans for this summer.
EasyJet has reiterated this message to customers and confirmed it is in “close contact” with suppliers to ensure it has an “uninterrupted supply” of jet fuel. The airline added that it is diversifying exporting from additional countries globally to bolster jet fuel supplies going forward.
In a message to customers on May 6, Kenton Jarvis, CEO of easyJet, said: “I want our customers to book with confidence this summer.
“We are operating as normal and are not making changes or cancellations and we are looking forward to taking millions of people on their well-deserved holidays this summer.”
The assurance that flights and holidays will go ahead this summer comes after easyJet this month launched a ‘Book with Confidence Promise’, confirming that flight and package holiday prices will stay fixed once a booking is confirmed and that customers will never experience any fare increases post-booking.
In the event airlines are forced to cancel any flight, customers are always guaranteed a flight voucher, refund or an alternative flight, and for any cancelled, an alternative holiday or full refund will be offered.
EasyJet Holidays offers ‘Ultimate Flexibility’ as part of its confidence boosting promise, allowing customers to easily change their plans all the way through to 28 days before travel.
The package holiday provider also allows customers to cancel up to 60 days before travel, with any deposit returned as easyJet holidays credit to put towards another trip of their choice. Any instalments made over-and-above the deposit will be refunded in full through to 28 days before take-off.
The new ‘Confidence Promise’ policy protects customers from being hit with unexpected surcharges from rising fuel costs in response to the Iran war, which has sent oil prices soaring.
Mr Jarvis added: “We understand that global events may affect travellers’ confidence at the moment, but we believe that everyone has a right to book their flights and holidays with confidence.
“That’s why we’re launching our ‘Book with Confidence Promise’. Our customers won’t be charged any more after they book, including no fuel surcharges, and package holidays customers can continue to benefit from Ultimate Flexibility when they book with easyJet Holidays.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
