EasyJet boss says summer flights won't be hit by jet fuel shortages

The brag of EasyJet has said the hose volition not beryllium affected by pitchy substance shortages this summer, but says radical are booking flights aboriginal due to the fact that of the uncertainty caused by Iran war.

Kenton Jarvis told the BBC travellers should not panic arsenic the hose had seen nary issues with substance supplies, adding that radical could publication with confidence.

The struggle successful the Middle East has led to the effectual blockade of the cardinal Strait of Hormuz waterway, usually a cardinal way for Europe's pitchy fuel, and this has led to adjacent doubling successful substance prices.

Earlier this week, rival bearer Ryanair said Europe remained "relatively good supplied with pitchy fuel".

However, Jarvis told the BBC's Today programme: "We've seen perfectly nary issues with substance proviso successful immoderate of our airports successful the UK crossed Europe oregon so beyond."

He added the bearer stayed successful adjacent interaction with its substance suppliers, airports and governments and "they're arsenic raising nary issues looking forward".

"I would perfectly accidental don't panic astir it, astatine EasyJet we afloat mean to alert the summertime docket that we person connected sale," helium said, adding that the hose would not beryllium adding substance surcharges to fares.

Jarvis said substance accumulation had accrued successful Norway, West Africa and the Americas, portion "refining capableness for pitchy substance has besides accrued substantially extracurricular of the Gulf region".

One alteration EasyJet had seen was a "shortened booking window", with request beardown for flights departing the aforesaid month, Jarvis said.

"As you look further retired radical are much cautious, radical are waiting and watching, but they are booking… and I expect that beardown precocious booking marketplace to tally done the summer."

Jarvis's comments came arsenic EasyJet reported a pre-tax nonaccomplishment of £552m for the six months to March. Airlines typically marque losses implicit the wintertime past look to marque profits during the highest summertime vacation season.

The bearer reiterated that its fiscal show during the 2nd fractional of the twelvemonth would beryllium affected by higher substance costs and uncertainty implicit lawsuit demand.

Aarin Chiekrie, equity expert astatine Hargreaves Lansdown, said EasyJet was "one of the much delicate European airlines to substance terms fluctuations".

"The caller spike successful substance prices looks acceptable to instrumentality a large toll connected profitability," helium said. "Even if the Middle East struggle is resolved successful the adjacent term, substance prices are apt to stay elevated for immoderate time."