A chilling letter warns of summer holiday disruption unless the government steps in (Image: Getty)
A coalition representing British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Loganair, Ryanair, TUI, UPS and Virgin Atlantic has delivered a stark warning to ministers regarding holidays this summer. According to ITV News, Airlines UK has told passengers, ‘you can forget your holidays’ according to Good Morning Host Susanna Reid.
The correspondence, which has been sent to ministers and the Civil Aviation Authority, urges the government and officials to amend the rules to reduce passenger duty, permit more night flights, and additionally to abolish compensation for cancelled or delayed flights.
Presenter Susanna said: “You can forget about your summer holidays. That is the stark warning issued to some air passengers hoping to fly abroad this year. With the war in Iran doubling the price of jet fuel, airlines say they face having to increase fares or cut flights altogether.”
Co-host Ed Balls added: “UK operators are now calling on the government to bring in emergency measures. In a confidential letter seen by ITV News, they’re asking for help to protect fuel supplies, reduce taxes on tickets, and waive strict rules. on compensating passengers.” ITV reported that airlines are pressing the Government to intervene to safeguard business travel, holiday flights and freight operations from the economic impact of the conflict in the Middle East. A confidential briefing document submitted to ministers and the aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, seen by ITV News, cautions that should the disruption “continues or worsens,” airlines will have no choice but to reduce flights and increase fares.
The document, from Airlines UK, which represents British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Loganair, Ryanair, TUI, UPS and Virgin Atlantic, warns that jet fuel costs have doubled, with fuel representing roughly a third of airline operating costs.
Correspondent Nick Dixon said: “Airlines are now at the stage where they are monitoring their reserves of jet fuel very carefully, very closely. There’s no indication just yet of any immediate cancelled flights or fuel shortages, but the airlines clearly need a backup plan in the longer term. and they are pushing for that. Now, some of the airlines have already taken steps. Luftanza, the European airline, has cancelled thousands of its short-haul flights in an effort to conserve jet fuel. EasyJet, Virgin Airlines, as well as others, have expressed a lot of concern about the coming weeks.
Virgin Atlantic has cancelled one of its long-haul routes. EasyJet has said, really, beyond the next few weeks into mid-May, they’re not entirely clear on what they will do for jet fuel. Let’s just take a look at what the airlines are asking from the government in this letter that you mentioned.”
In terms of the changes the airlines want he said: “So firstly, they want to relieve or reduce air passenger duty to help bring down the cost of of travel generally and holidays during this period. Allow for night time flights to keep things moving if the schedules are disrupted and also to scrap compensation for cancelled or delayed flights caused by fuel shortages. All of that of course would have a huge impact. on passengers.
Airlines are urging the government to step in to protect business travel, holiday flights and freight operations from the economic fallout of the war in the Middle East, ITV News understands.
A confidential briefing document submitted to ministers and the aviation regulator, the… pic.twitter.com/imzMbwVk1H
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“What most passengers want to know is, will my holiday flight be affected? It may well be that if the airlines win concessions from the government that we start to see some tactical flight cancellations of what would otherwise be loss-making departures.
“Well, the Department for Transport has said that it’s continuing to work with fuel suppliers, with airlines, and international counterparts on our contingency emergency planning to ensure that people keep moving and businesses are supported while the conflict is ongoing. But it’s all quite vague really at the moment and very concerning for passengers who have either spent hundreds if not thousands on flights or are looking to plan uh trips throughout the summer.”
The Department for Transport said: “We continue to work with fuel suppliers, airlines and international counterparts on our contingency planning, to ensure people keep moving and businesses are supported while the conflict is ongoing.”