Volotea cuts 10% of winter flights: French airports affected

Are European winter travel plans in jeopardy? Spanish low-cost airline Volotea is the most recent company to cancel flights due to high jet fuel prices, with warnings that more cancellations may hit the sector unless costs begin to drop. 

The airline has cancelled around 10% of its flights between November - February, according to data firm Cirium, with several French airports affected.

This includes Brest, Lille, Lyon, Marseille and Rodez, and Bordeaux, and at the latter the number of Volotea flights has been slashed by up to 35%.

The airline said it was “proactively contacting affected passengers well in advance to allow them to reorganise their travel plans and to inform them of available options, including the possibility of changing their flight at no extra cost or requesting a full refund,” when contacted by media outlet 20Minutes. 

An internal memo from the airline, seen by BFMTV, reported that fuel costs had increased €150 million since this year’s tensions in the Middle East.

Losses have come despite the airline initially hedging part of its fuel requirements during the early months of the crisis. ‘Hedging’ fuel is agreeing a fixed purchase price in advance to avoid market fluctuations.

The airline is now looking to adapt its fleet, flying fewer aircraft but using larger models to minimise per-seat costs.

Middle East tensions responsible

Airlines have been affected by the conflict between the US/Israel and Iran, and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz. 

Large quantities of Europe’s jet fuel (kerosene) supplies travel through, or use materials that pass through, the strait, and its closure has seen prices hit record highs. 

An early flurry of cancellations in spring 2026 came before a mostly calm summer, but the long-term effects of prolonged disruption look set to impact the aviation sector this autumn.

Even airlines that hedged much of their fuel for the coming months are still set to be impacted, having to eventually buy at the higher price when agreements run out. 

This could lead to price rises by airlines of all sizes, and Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said that certain rivals, including Wizz Air and airBaltic, may be at risk of going under due to the costs. Both airlines denied this, however.

The latter, which has filed for bankruptcy protection in the US, reportedly based its 2026 financial reports on jet fuel costing $685 per tonne. Current costs are around $1,500.

Are more cancellations on the way? 

Volotea is one of several airlines to announce cancellations for the upcoming period.

Fellow budget carrier Ryanair announced a reduction in seats available across the coming months, without specifying affected routes.

Lufthansa, Wizz Air, and airBaltic have all reduced flights for the winter season, either by cutting back on routes or aircraft.

No other major airlines offering European routes have yet announced cancellations for the upcoming season.

Passengers who have their flights cancelled will be informed by the airline.