Fuel shortages see Ryanair warn of cancellations as Aurigny cuts some Paris flights
Shortages could see prices rise further or routes cut altogether
Low-cost carrier Ryanair may be forced to cancel flights this summer. Aurigny has already reduced scheduled services to Paris
Markus Mainka / Craig Russell / Shutterstock
Flights may be cancelled this summer due to jet fuel shortages linked to the conflict in the Middle East, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has warned.
It comes after Guernsey airline Aurigny cancelled most mid-week flights between the Channel Island and Paris until at least June, combined services from Exeter and Bristol airports, and included a £2 surcharge on bookings made after March 20.
Ryanair is yet to announce any such measures, but warns they are on the horizon.
“We are all facing an unknown scenario,” said Mr O’Leary to ITV News on Thursday, April 2.
“And we are certainly looking at maybe having to cancel 5%, 10% of flights through May, June and July,” he added.
Earlier that day, Mr O’Leary said to Sky News that flights are unlikely to be cancelled if the conflict in the Middle East ends in April, as jet fuel supplies should not be disrupted.
“Oil companies are reassured that there will be no disruptions until the beginning of May. But if the war continues, we run the risk of supply disruptions in Europe in May and June,” he said.
Ryanair currently has around 80% of its needed jet fuel for the summer season in reserve, but obtaining the remaining 20% would be significantly more expensive than usual, as the price of raw oil has increased significantly in the last month.
This would lead to a knock-on effect on rising prices, or the cancellation of flights to ensure current fuel is mostly sufficient to cover needs.
Are French flights at risk?
Mr O’Leary did not cite the flights that would be cancelled, however he urged those looking to travel in the summer to book tickets as quickly as possible to avoid rising prices, echoing warnings from easyJet CEO Kenton Jarvis last month.
If cancellations do take place, the least profitable routes would almost certainly be the first to be cancelled.
Ryanair has frequently criticised the French government for increasing airline taxes in 2025, and already cancelled several French routes due to this, citing unprofitability.
If this trend continues services to French airports, particularly rural routes, could be among those affected by cancellations.
However, recent travel data has seen a drop in low-cost carrier sales to destinations closer to the Middle Eastern conflict – Egypt, Turkey, Cyprus – and seen increased demand for destinations such as Portugal and Spain.
Routes to destinations closer to the Middle East could therefore be cancelled first.
