Several airlines have already slashed schedules in a bid to save fuel, with at least 13,000 flights cancelled globally this month alone – representing around two million fewer seats
Holidaymakers bound for Spain, Portugal, Italy, France and Turkey this summer have been issued warnings about potential flight chaos as airlines axe thousands of services amid mounting concerns over aviation fuel shortages.
Millions of Britons jet off to Europe during the busy summer months, along with Turkey, which ranks among the top destinations for UK travellers.
However, industry experts are now cautioning that passengers could be hit with steeper prices, slashed timetables and potential disruption after carriers began scrapping thousands of flights globally due to rocketing aviation fuel prices tied to the escalating Middle East crisis.
Multiple airlines, including Germany’s Lufthansa, have already decimated their schedules in an effort to conserve fuel, with at least 13,000 flights axed worldwide this month alone – equating to roughly two million fewer seats.
Data from aviation analytics company Cirium shows that global airline capacity in May plummeted from 132 million to 130 million seats between April 10 and April 21. The company cautioned that should the Iranian conflict persist and disruption around the Strait of Hormuz deteriorate further, more severe reductions could materialise in June.
Cirium stated: “The longer the crisis goes on, the more cuts should be expected.”
The Strait of Hormuz serves as one of the globe’s most crucial shipping channels for oil and fuel supplies, and its blockade has reportedly severed approximately 30% of Europe’s aviation fuel deliveries. The scramble to secure alternative fuel supplies from areas including the United States and West Africa has also allegedly led to prices doubling, reports the Express.
British carriers are amongst those coming under mounting pressure, with easyJet and British Airways already cautioning that soaring fuel costs are set to drive ticket prices upwards.
A separate study by French bank Société Générale indicated that if just half of the missing fuel supply is replaced, aviation fuel stocks could plummet to dangerous levels by June – potentially heightening the threat of airport-specific shortages and additional flight cancellations.
Bryan Terry, managing director of Alton Aviation Consulting, cautioned that more carriers are anticipated to reveal cuts in the weeks ahead.
He told The i Paper: “We anticipate additional cuts, particularly from carriers that have yet to make announcements.
“Every airline will be paring schedules, dropping the most unprofitable routes and reducing frequencies on busy routes where capacity exceeds demand.”
Mr Terry added: “Airlines typically adjust schedules on a four-to-eight-week lag after a supply shock,” meaning decisions on June and July flights are likely to be made within days.
Specialists have increasingly cautioned that the UK could be amongst the nations worst affected due to limited refining capacity and a dependence on imported aviation fuel.
Nevertheless, the Government maintained there is presently no immediate shortage. A spokesperson said: “UK airlines are clear that they are not currently seeing a shortage of jet fuel. Aviation fuel is typically bought in advance and airports and suppliers keep stocks of bunkered fuel to support their resilience.”