An easyJet plane takes off from Nantes Atlantique Airport (Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)
EasyJet has released a fresh update for British travellers currently booking their summer getaways as it said ‘we understand’. Holiday-makers across the nation are actively arranging plans for the warmer months ahead.
Yet they are doing so against a backdrop of uncertainty looming over sections of the airline sector. This follows jet fuel shortages triggered by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran.
Lufthansa has already confirmed that 20,000 of its flights are to be cancelled as a consequence. Industry analysts caution that additional airlines are likely to reduce their capacity in the weeks ahead – with Ted Wake, managing director of Kirker Holidays, forecasting last week that “I think other airlines within the UK market will be doing something similar.”
Across the Atlantic, we reported earlier today that budget operator Spirit Airlines has announced it is grounding all of its flights, as the jet fuel crisis, coupled with escalating financial pressures, drove the airline to the brink of collapse. easyJet has now outlined new commitments to customers alongside a recent statement.
It forms part of an effort to reassure British passengers as they consider their summer travel choices. Ryanair and Wizz Air have also acted within the past 24 hours to provide their own guarantees to UK holiday-makers. In a statement released today, easyJet said: “easyJet is not seeing any disruption to fuel supply. We continue to operate our flights and package holidays as normal, are not making changes and intend to operate our full summer schedule. We remain in close contact with suppliers who continue to provide uninterrupted supply and are diversifying exporting from additional countries globally to bolster supplies going forward.”, reports the Mirror.
Michael O’Leary, chief executive officer of Ryanair Holdings Plc (Image: Bloomberg, Bloomberg via Getty Images)
EasyJet issued the latest statement as it rolled out new measures aimed at giving British travellers greater reassurance when booking flights. The budget carrier has launched a ‘Book with Confidence Promise’ in a bid to put passengers’ minds at ease ahead of the summer season.
The airline is guaranteeing that customers will not be hit with post-booking price rises or fuel surcharges. EasyJet says it plans to operate its full network schedule, encompassing more than 50 million seats and 30 new UK routes.
The airline’s ‘Ultimate Flexibility’ policy allows holidaymakers to modify or cancel their bookings up to 28 days before departure. Kenton Jarvis, CEO at easyJet said: “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.”
Passengers board an easyJet plane (Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Jet2, easyJet and TUI have all vowed not to levy extra charges on holidaymakers for fuel price rises. In fresh comments released today, Michael O’Leary, the chief of Ryanair, Europe’s biggest airline, told The Times that 80 per cent of its fuel supply until March 2027 had been secured in advance. He confirmed the carrier would not be cutting any flights, despite the turmoil costing the business roughly £37 million monthly in additional fuel expenses on its unhedged supply.
Eddie Wilson, chief executive of Ryanair, cautioned that competing airlines might soon start “gouging” their schedules if prices stay high. He said: “What’s going to happen with airlines that are not financially robust, they either have to decide whether they are going to continue flying at a loss or start gouging their schedules. That’s not something we are contemplating.”
Meanwhile, Wizz Air has likewise sought to reassure passengers. Speaking to renowned UK travel broadcaster and journalist Simon Calder on his Independent travel podcast, the airline expressed confidence that it will deliver a full schedule of flights this summer. “We have just launched our biggest-ever network from the UK and in particular from Luton,” said Yvonne Moynihan, managing director of Wizz Air UK. “Despite the challenging geopolitical crisis, business goes on as usual. In airlines, we are well used to crises, so we are resilient and we’re well adapted.
“For low-cost airlines like Wizz in the UK, we don’t see any shortage of fuel.” She explained that should jet fuel shortages impact the UK, the carrier would source fuel from alternative locations.
“We can take more fuel than is required in those destinations,” she said. “We can even fly to other countries and and pit-stop, if you will, if we need additional fuel.
“But we’re not seeing an Armageddon situation. We have fuel supply. We have other mechanisms for uplifting fuel.”
A Jet2 spokesman said: “We remain in continual dialogue with our fuel suppliers, as is standard practice. Based on the conversations we have been having, we see no reason not to look forward to operating our scheduled programme of flights and holidays as normal.”
Airlines UK said: “UK airlines continue to operate normally and are not experiencing issues with jet fuel supply.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
