The government wants to reassure travelers before the summer. Despite soaring kerosene prices linked to tensions in the Middle East, Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot has assured them that there will be "no mass cancellations" of flights in the coming months. According to him, airlines will maintain the bulk of their summer schedules in order to preserve a crucial season for their business.
The minister acknowledged that some low-cost carriers had already reduced a limited portion of their flights. Volotea anticipates approximately 1% cancellations and Transavia nearly 2% during certain periods in May and June, but Air France and other major French airlines are maintaining their flight schedules. Philippe Tabarot emphasized that July and August represent up to 70% of some airlines' annual revenue, meaning they have "no incentive" to massively cancel flights.
Persistent tensions over fuel prices
The airline sector remains severely weakened by the soaring cost of jet fuel. According to the government, fuel now accounts for more than 45% of some airlines' operating costs, compared to around 25% before the current energy crisis. This week, the government convened airlines, energy companies, and airport operators to prevent any fuel shortages this summer.
Philippe Tabarot also criticized certain pricing practices, particularly those of the Spanish airline Volotea, which he accused of passing on fuel price increases to some tickets after purchase. The minister maintains that "the price is fixed" once the ticket is paid for and indicates that legal discussions are underway with the airline regarding the legality of this practice.
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