London24NEWS

TUI, Jet2 and straightforwardJet subject vacation fee updates as gas disaster fears develop

TUI, Jet2 and easyJet have issued a statement on pre-booked or new holiday bookings for summer 2026 to UK holidaymakers as rising jet fuel costs grow due to the conflict in the Middle East

Numerous airlines have released statements for passengers worried about being slapped with additional charges for holidays they’ve already reserved as the conflict in the Middle East has sparked fears of a jet fuel shortage.

It has also meant fuel costs have rocketed, with individuals who have already secured holidays, and those planning to, anxious they’ll be demanded to pay extra to cover the escalating expenses affecting airlines. Jet2 and easyJet this weekend confirmed that they will not be passing on any rise to passengers through surcharges. Now this afternoon airline and tour operator TUI has announced it will not charge passengers more.

Neil Swanson, Managing Director at TUI UKandI, said: “We understand that customers want both confidence and clarity when booking a holiday. Our teams are here to support people who are thinking about booking, and those who have already booked with TUI can be reassured that their holiday price is fixed, with no fuel surcharges added.”

easyJet has issued a fresh statement pledging the airline and tour operator will not add surcharges to any pre-booked flights and package holidays, or future bookings. The firm said travellers can reserve their package holidays with confidence thanks to its Best Price Guarantee and Ultimate Flexibility policy. The holiday provider said: “EasyJet and easyJet holidays has confirmed that it will not introduce surcharges on its flights or package holidays, giving customers complete peace of mind when booking.

“No surcharges will apply to any pre‐booked easyJet holiday packages or to any new bookings for summer 2026. easyJet currently sees no disruption to its jet fuel supply and all flights and package holidays continue to operate normally.”

Garry Wilson, CEO of easyJet holidays, said: “We know that holidaymakers may have questions about what recent global events might mean for their travel plans this summer so we are giving our customers absolute peace of mind that no surcharges will be added to their flights or package holidays,” reports the Liverpool Echo.

“Our operations remain unaffected, so customers can be confident that not only will their holiday go ahead as planned, but there will be no surprise extra payments, and they can enjoy their brilliant holidays at unbeatable prices.”

Jet2 has confirmed it will not impose surcharges on any pre-booked flights or holidays to offset rising costs, such as those linked to jet fuel. In a bid to calm growing worries, yesterday the Department for Transport issued direct guidance to passengers with flights booked with Jet2, Ryanair, Wizz, easyJet and British Airways.

Jet2 has eliminated the surcharge provision across all flights and holidays, despite the fact the airline has never previously imposed them. The policy encompasses all flights and holidays booked through any channel, whether online, via the mobile app, contact centre or independent travel agent. It excludes tourist taxes, which are payable at the resort during the holiday and are paid directly to the accommodation provider.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2, said: “Holidaymakers should have every right to book their hard-earned break in the sun, without worrying about being hit with additional costs, and they can have that complete assurance when they book a flight or holiday with Jet2. As a result of today’s announcement, customers booking with Jet2 know that they are locking in their price without additional cost surprises later and we strongly believe that is the right thing to do by them. Ahead of a busy summer this is yet more evidence of why, on top of our incredible holidays and award-winning customer service, nothing beats a Jet2holiday.”

The DfT declared on Friday: “There is no current need for passengers to change their travel plans. UK airlines buy jet fuel in advance, and airports maintain stocks to support their resilience. The government is working closely with the aviation industry to monitor risks and minimise disruption to passengers.

“If your flight is cancelled, you have clear legal rights, including the right to a full refund or re-routing. Read this factsheet for the full picture on the current situation and what it means for you.”

Nevertheless, IAG – the parent firm of British Airways, Aer Lingus and Spain’s Iberia – has discussed “pricing adjustments to reflect these higher fuel costs”. A spokesperson stated: “We are not seeing jet fuel supply interruptions, but fuel prices have risen sharply and, despite our hedging strategy, which gives some shorter-term mitigation, we are not immune to the impact.”

Article continues below

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.