Airlines operating in the UK have begun cancelling flights as the rising price of jet fuel, driven by the conflict in the Middle East, takes its toll on the industry. Aurigny, the Channel Islands carrier, has reduced services between Guernsey and London City airport from mid-April to early June, with affected passengers offered seats on London Gatwick flights. Services from Exeter and Bristol have also been combined, while most flights to and from Paris have been deferred until June.
The airline described the changes as “proactive measures to address the impact of global instability”, citing falling demand and the need to “preserve the number of weekly frequencies whilst reducing excess seats”. Aurigny will also add a temporary fuel adjustment surcharge of £2 on all bookings made from March 20 onwards. Customers affected by the changes are being contacted directly.
Skybus has also cancelled flights between Newquay and London Gatwick starting from April 2, citing “circumstances beyond our control”. The airline said customers expecting to travel in April and May will receive full refunds. Managing director Jonathan Hinkles pointed to the “huge rise in the cost of fuel following the war in the Gulf” and a “significant drop” in passenger bookings, adding that it was “neither environmentally nor economically sound” to continue flying with vastly reduced passenger numbers.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has warned that the airline may need to cancel 5% to 10% of its flights through May, June and July if the conflict continues to affect jet fuel prices. He told ITV News: “We're all facing an unknown scenario.” The warning comes as jet fuel prices have risen from $742 a metric tonne a year ago to more than $1,710, with Brent crude oil reaching as high as $116 a barrel on Monday, its first time above $100 since 2022. The Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil travels, remains largely shut.
The impact is being felt globally. Air New Zealand has cut 1,100 flights through early May, Scandinavian group SAS is axing 1,000 next month, and Vietnam Airlines has said it may cut flights by 10% to 20% per month in the coming quarter if prices keep rising. United Airlines became the first major US carrier to cancel flights due to fuel costs, with chief executive Scott Kirby warning that fares could rise by 20% if oil prices remain high. According to aviation analytics company Cirium, almost 7% of globally scheduled flights were cancelled on Monday, compared with 4.7% on the same day last year.
