Corsair is sounding the alarm about kerosene; the bill is skyrocketing before the shortage.

Behind the radar and route maps, another battle is being waged in the skies: the price of kerosene. On Monday, on BFM Business, Pascal de Izaguirre, CEO of Corsair, warned that the number one threat, in the context of tensions in the Middle East, is not primarily a lack of fuel but its rapidly increasing price. And when fuel prices skyrocket, fares follow, sometimes subtly, sometimes more dramatically, because no airline can absorb this shock alone for long.

Specifically, the executive is talking about a price "between two and two and a half times" above the pre-conflict level. A simple statement, an immediate effect. The kerosene cost, which accounted for about a quarter of operating expenses, would now represent 40 to 45% of costs. In other words, the cost structure is shifting, as if the plane were flying with extra ballast, and the room for maneuver is shrinking rapidly, especially on routes where competition limits price increases.

Fuel, the new center of gravity of the accounts

The question that still worries the public remains: will there be enough fuel to get the planes airborne? On this point, Pascal de Izaguirre is more reassuring, mentioning ongoing discussions with the government. He says the airlines have visibility for about six weeks, and the government maintains strategic reserves for three months, enough to secure short-term supplies. The immediate risk, therefore, lies less with the fuel at the pump than with the fuel bill.

Finally, Corsair quietly highlights a key operational advantage: its network remains far from conflict zones, thus limiting detours, route changes, and excessive fuel consumption. Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, the Caribbean, Réunion, Mauritius… destinations considered “dynamic” and, above all, less exposed to major air traffic disruptions. But if fuel prices remain at these levels, the entire ticket economy risks being recalibrated, and French travelers will have to get used to scrutinizing the final price more closely.