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Wed, 13 May 2026

Wed, 13 May 2026 Higher Europe air fares 'inevitable', says industry head

Flying by air will get more expensive as oil prices remain high after the US and Israel's conflict with Iran.

* Air ticket prices in Europe are likely to rise due to high jet fuel costs, according to the head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
* IATA's Willie Walsh said airlines cannot absorb extra costs over time and that higher prices are "inevitable".
* The UK aviation industry is still concerned about possible shortages of fuel over the summer, despite government assurances.
* The EU has said there is no regulatory reason why US-grade jet fuel should not be used by European airlines, but supply issues may still arise in the long term.
* Airlines have cut fares recently to boost demand, but Walsh warned this situation would not last and that ticket prices will rise eventually.
* The closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the conflict in Iran has driven up jet fuel prices and raised concerns about possible shortages in Europe.
* UK airlines are relying on imports from the region and scrambling to find alternative supplies.
* Walsh said there were still concerns for UK operators, citing timing as a major problem, with peak summer period flights likely to be affected by potential shortages.