Brussels, May 8 (SANA) The European Commission warned airlines on Friday against imposing additional fuel surcharges on passengers or changing compensation rules despite the worsening global aviation fuel crisis triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and disruptions to Gulf energy supplies.
EU spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said airlines could adjust advertised ticket prices to reflect current market conditions, but stressed that adding fuel surcharges after tickets have already been purchased “cannot be justified,” according to CNN.
The European Commission said passenger protection rules remain fully in force and that the impact of the U.S.–Israeli–Iranian war on fuel markets does not justify suspending compensation regulations.
In new guidance issued, the Commission said airlines remain obligated to compensate passengers for cancelled flights except in cases involving localized fuel shortages. It also stressed that retroactive fuel surcharges are not permitted.
The warning follows reports that several airlines, particularly low-cost carriers, could cancel thousands of flights during the summer travel season because of soaring fuel prices. Some airlines have already begun cancelling flights, while others are urging the EU to allow temporary exemptions.
European airlines rely on the Middle East for around 75 percent of their jet fuel supplies, making them among the most vulnerable carriers affected by the current crisis.
International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director General Willie Walsh had earlier warned that fuel shortages could begin disrupting flights from late April.
The crisis deepened after supply disruptions linked to the war in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz caused sharp increases in aviation fuel prices, prompting several airlines to pass higher costs on to passengers.
Airlines across Europe and Asia are facing mounting pressure amid warnings of disruptions to the summer travel season and reduced airport operating capacity.
In an effort to ease the crisis, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said it would allow the use of U.S.-grade “Jet A” fuel within EU countries as a temporary alternative to the internationally used “Jet A-1” fuel.
EASA said the use of Jet A fuel does not raise safety concerns if introduced carefully, but warned of possible operational risks when mixing the two fuel types because of differences in freezing points.
The crisis has placed travelers at the center of the economic fallout from international conflicts, as airlines seek to offset mounting losses while European regulators attempt to maintain consumer protections during one of the most severe energy disruptions facing the global transport sector.
MHD
