EasyJet CEO Says Summer Schedule Is Safe Despite Jet Fuel Price Surge
BBC Business reported Thursday that EasyJet’s chief executive sees no jet fuel shortage threatening the airline’s summer operations, even as conflict in the Middle East drives fuel prices sharply higher.
Jarvis Tells Travelers to Book With Confidence
EasyJet CEO Kenton Jarvis gave a direct reassurance to passengers on Thursday. He told the BBC that the carrier had encountered zero fuel supply problems at any of its airports across the UK, Europe, or further afield. Jarvis added that fuel suppliers, airports, and governments had all communicated similar confidence about near-term availability. He said the airline had no plans to attach fuel surcharges to existing fares. EasyJet intends to operate its full published summer timetable, he stressed.
Jarvis credited rising output from Norway, West Africa, and the Americas for offsetting Middle East disruption. Refining capacity outside the Gulf region had also grown substantially, he said.
Why Jet Fuel Prices Have Nearly Doubled
The Iran war has effectively blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for Europe’s jet fuel supply. Before the first US and Israeli airstrikes in late February, European jet fuel was trading near $831 per tonne. By early April prices had nearly reached $1,838 per tonne. Costs have since eased to roughly $1,300 per tonne. EasyJet disclosed the conflict added approximately £25 million to its fuel bill in March alone. To limit further exposure, the airline has hedged 72% of its fuel needs through September at pre-war pricing. That coverage drops to 53% for the winter period covering 2026-27.
Rival carrier Ryanair said earlier this week that Europe remained reasonably well supplied with jet fuel, echoing EasyJet’s calmer assessment.
Passengers Are Booking Later, But Still Booking
One visible effect of the uncertainty is a compressed booking window across the travel sector. Jarvis described robust demand for near-term departures but cautious appetite for trips booked further out. He expects that pattern to persist through the peak summer season. Tour operator Tui has already flagged a 10% revenue decline on forward UK summer bookings. Package-holiday specialist Jet2 has made similar observations since the conflict began. Travel agency group Advantage Travel Partnership noted that strong demand for imminent departures shows travel appetite remains intact despite the hesitation.
Half-Year Loss Underlines Summer Pressure
EasyJet posted a pre-tax loss of £552 million for the six months ending March, a typical winter outcome for European short-haul carriers. Hargreaves Lansdown equity analyst Aarin Chiekrie warned that fuel-price sensitivity leaves EasyJet exposed. Even a swift resolution to Middle East tensions would likely keep fuel elevated well beyond any ceasefire, he cautioned.
Read Next: SpaceX Files for Stock Market Debut That Could Make Elon Musk a Trillionaire
