Transavia, the low-cost subsidiary of the Air France-KLM group, is canceling a portion of its flights in May and June as soaring kerosene prices squeeze airline budgets across Europe.
The carrier confirmed the schedule changes on Sunday, April 27, saying the cuts affect less than 2% of its flights during the two-month period.
A spokesperson for the airline said that the move was intended to optimise costs in response to rising fuel prices driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Customers affected by the cancellations are being notified individually by SMS and email.
Transavia said those affected will have three options: a free rebooking, a voucher, or a full refund. The company added that for the majority of canceled flights, a rescheduled departure within 24 hours is available.
The disruption traces back to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran following the outbreak of conflict between the United States and Iran at the end of February. The strait normally carries close to 20% of the world’s hydrocarbon production, and its closure has driven up jet fuel costs across the aviation industry. Europe typically imports half of its kerosene from Gulf countries.
Transavia has already introduced fare increases averaging around 10 euros per round trip to offset the higher costs, according to its spokesperson. The airline, which operates medium-haul routes, is not alone in taking such steps as the fuel crunch widens.
In Brussels, European Commissioner Dan Jorgensen warned that the European Union was approaching a potential supply crisis very rapidly, with the risk of a summer marked by higher airfares and cancellations. The global airline industry body IATA has called on regulators to coordinate and maintain transparency if jet fuel rationing becomes necessary, particularly across Europe.
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