The boss of budget airline EasyJet has said it intends to operate its summer schedule as planned despite fears of cancellations.
Airlines have been axing flights as the crisis in the middle east causes a shortage of fuel leading to rising costs for some carriers.
Travellers and holiday makers in Scotland and the UK have been worried that flights they have booked could be cancelled leaving plans shattered.
But today, Kenton Jarvis, EasyJet chief executive, offered some comfort to those who have bookings with the airline.
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Speaking on BBC Radio 4 Today programme, he told customers not to panic.
He said “EasyJet is not seeing any disruption to fuel supply.
“We continue to operate normally and our customers should book with confidence, taking advantage of our great value fares.”
On the impact the crisis is having on oil and fuel supplies, he said: “We stay in very close contact with our fuel suppliers, airports, governments, and they are equally raising no issues looking forward.
“What is true is obviously there’s a lot less oil coming from the Gulf region, but fuel suppliers have successfully diversified, with production increased in Norway, in West Africa, in the Americas, and refining capacity for jet fuel has also increased substantially outside of the Gulf region.”
He added: “I would absolutely say don’t panic about it. At easyJet, we fully intend to fly the summer schedule that we have on sale, and we also have a ‘book with confidence’ promise that we will not put fuel surcharges on, so once you’ve booked, that will be the price you pay.”
Despite problems with tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Iran the impact on flights to and from the UK has so far been limited.
EasyJet reported that bookings for summer flights are lower than the same point last year because of uncertainty caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
The airline said it has sold 58% of its seats for the six months to the end of September, down two percentage points from a year ago.
But short-notice bookings in the month of departure are up year-on-year.
Mr Jarvis said the airline has raised the minimum prices of its winter 2026/27 flights by “two to three pounds” because of higher fuel costs but fares for this summer are “incredibly attractive”.
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