Jet2 says it’s confident its summer flying programme will operate as normal this summer after seeing an increase in fuel supplies.
CEO Steve Heapy said Jet’s ongoing discussions with its fuel suppliers indicate a rise in both production and imports, adding: “We continue to look ahead with confidence.
“We have already been very clear about our plans to operate our schedule as normal this summer, and our message to holidaymakers is that summer is on.”
He released the statement after the Civil Aviation Authority Head of Consumer Protection Anna Bowles wrote to all airlines to remind them of their obligations to customers during the fuel crisis.
She warned carriers that if they cancel flights with less than 14 days’ notice due to rising fuel prices, passengers could be entitled to fixed-sum compensation under Regulation UK261 (EU261).
“While appreciating that the rising price of jet fuel creates significant operational challenges for airlines, the view of the CAA is that decisions by airlines to cancel flights or consolidate schedules for operational or commercial reasons (including fuel prices) would not constitute extraordinary circumstances,” she wrote.
“We also expect that airlines will typically be able to provide affected passengers with at least 14 days’ notice of such decisions, in which case fixed-sum compensation would not apply.”
She said ‘the position is likely to be more complex’ if airlines cancel flights due to fuel shortages. “Where it is clear that a cancellation is directly due to a fuel shortage at the airport which prevents the flight from departing, this may be considered extraordinary circumstances.
“However, where there are multiple considerations driving an airline’s decision to cancel a flight (for example, where fuel restrictions mean that some flights operate and others do not), whether the circumstances are extraordinary would depend on the specific facts of each cancellation and would need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
“We advise airlines to maintain good records of the specific circumstances surrounding each cancellation.”
She also reminded airlines of their legal obligations to provide care and assistance during disruption and ‘take reasonable, proportionate steps to look after their passengers’.
Anna also warned airlines that price increases to existing flight-only bookings due to rising fuel costs are not permissible under UK consumer protection legislation.
“We note that for package holidays only, price increases may be permitted in limited circumstances under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 (‘PTRs’),” she added.
“However where consumers are offered a ‘price promise’ at the time of booking that the price of their package will not increase, we expect terms and conditions to reflect this and consider that price increases under PTR Regulation 10 would not be permissible.”
Several tour operators, including Jet2holidays, have guaranteed no surcharges this summer. It has also promised ‘flexibility and swift refunds in the unlikely event of any flight or holiday cancellations’.
