Ryanair and easyJet cancel thousands of winter flights over jet fuel costs

Ryanair and easyJet have cancelled thousands of flights this winter because soaring jet fuel prices have made many routes unprofitable, removing more than a million seats, with more cuts expected from other airlines.

In Europe, jet fuel prices have doubled this year to $196 a barrel, from less than $100 at the start of the year, according to the International Air Transport Association, Geo News reported.

Why airlines are grounding planes

Both airlines had hedged most of the fuel they needed for the summer, but a growing share of their winter supply has no cover. When demand is weak, it is cheaper to ground aircraft than to fly them at a loss.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has said high fuel prices could last until 2028.

Who is cutting what

• easyJet: has removed another 700,000 seats from its winter schedule, on top of 700,000 already cancelled, focusing on routes with several flights a day
• Ryanair: is mainly cancelling Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning flights in late November, early December and mid-January
• Total: more than a million seats scrapped so far

Passengers’ rights

Under the UK and EU “261” rules, passengers whose flights are cancelled at least two weeks ahead have no right to compensation, but must be offered a choice of a full refund, an alternative flight or a later journey.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority says that if another airline flies the route earlier, passengers may be able to be rebooked on it at the original airline’s expense.

A war-driven fuel shock

The jump in fuel prices follows the war on Iran and the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which carried about a fifth of the world’s oil before the conflict. Brent crude was trading around $105 a barrel on Friday, while Kpler said Hormuz oil flows had fallen to about 68 percent of normal.

The International Energy Agency agreed this week to release more than 20 million barrels of diesel to cool prices, but analysts say only an easing of Middle East tensions will bring real relief.

Fares may stay high

US airlines and industry analysts have warned that airfares could stay high even if jet fuel prices fall, because the war has upended airlines’ costs and planning, and they sell seats months in advance. Gulf flights have also been disrupted by Houthi attacks on Saudi airports, with many airlines suspending services to Riyadh. Lufthansa Group cancelled all Riyadh flights until October 16, Air France-KLM suspended services until the end of the month, and Delta pushed back its new Atlanta to Riyadh route to March 2027.

Why it matters

When Ryanair and easyJet start grounding planes, it shows how deep the fuel shock from the Middle East war runs. For travellers heading to or through Europe this winter, it means fewer flights to choose from. Read our reports on oil’s weekly gain and on airfares staying high because of jet fuel.

This article draws on reporting by Geo News, The Express Tribune and Reuters.