Due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Europe is facing a fuel crisis, causing concern about the likelihood of summer holidays going ahead. The International Energy Agency has warned that supply issues could kick in within the next five to six weeks, with the owner of British Airways commenting that flight tickets may increase in line with skyrocketing fuel costs.
Fuel Crisis and Its Impact on Air Travel
The fuel crisis comes as the Strait of Hormuz has been blocked throughout the conflict, meaning energy is not able to be distributed at a normal rate. The strait is the shipping passage for 20 per cent of the world's fuel and has seen the costs of petrol rapidly increase since the outbreak of war.
For travel, this has caused disruption to many flights, with prices changing and travellers fearing cancellations. According to EU energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen, it is "very likely that many people's holidays will be affected, either by flight cancellations or very, very expensive tickets."
UK Law Protections for Cancelled Flights
If your flight is cancelled, it is covered by UK law if it was set to depart or arrive at a UK airport on a UK or EU airline, or arrive at an EU airport on a UK or EU airline. Popular UK airlines Jet2, Ryanair and easyJet are all covered by this rule. If you are covered and your flight is cancelled, the airline you are travelling with must provide you with a refund or book you on an alternative flight.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says that you can get all of your money back for your tickets or for the parts you haven't used. With return flights, if outward travel is cancelled, you are entitled to a full refund. The CAA added: "If you are a transfer passenger and you have already completed part of your journey, you are also entitled to a flight back to your original departure point when your connecting flight is cancelled and you decide not to continue your journey."
£100 Booking Tip: Pay by Credit Card
Experts gave a £100 flight booking warning, advising to pay via credit card as this gives you Section 75 protection under the Consumer Credit Act, legally protecting you for purchases costing between £100 and £30,000. The situation is currently so unpredictable that travellers should be aware of all the cover they are entitled to, as flights may be cut at any point.
Global aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas told the Daily Mail that flights could be cut at the last minute. Thomas highlighted that Europe is particularly impacted, especially when it comes to long haul travel. "Europe is more exposed at the moment than Asia is, which means trips from Australia are obviously a challenge. For airlines like Qantas, who operate the Perth to London service, at the moment, they have to fly additional distance to refuel in Singapore. Any airline that operates through the Middle East is also exposed if the conflict widens or the Iranians decide to resume random drone attacks."
Importance of Travel Insurance
Amid the conflict, travel experts reiterated the importance of travel insurance. "To not travel with insurance these days is pretty crazy," Dr David Beirman told the Daily Mail. "Most policies will cover cancellation or major changes to an itinerary from a number of causes. If your airline is being difficult about a changed flight, and they're only prepared to give you a credit or something like that, the travel insurance company will usually come to the party and help financially."
