LONDON, May 20, 2026, 13:05 BST
Jet2 said Wednesday it plans to run its summer flight schedule as planned and will hold off on fuel surcharges for flights and holidays already booked. The company pointed to reports of boosted fuel production and increased imports from regions outside the Middle East conflict. Jet2 made the statement for customers concerned about jet fuel supplies heading into the peak travel season.
European airlines are heading into the summer rush while jet fuel prices are still high. Jet fuel, the main fuel for passenger planes, has doubled from pre-Iran war levels, Reuters reported last week. Flows through the Strait of Hormuz remain disrupted and that’s hitting supply, with airlines and airports trying to reassure travellers.
UK to allow diesel, jet fuel made from Russian crude under sanctions carve-out The UK government is opening up supply more. Britain will let in imports of diesel and jet fuel made abroad from Russian crude oil after a new sanctions carve-out. Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson said it was about keeping supplies of “foundational goods” like jet oil. Reuters
Jet2 boss Steve Heapy said the airline is in ongoing discussions with fuel suppliers, adding there’s more production and imports right now. “Summer is on,” Heapy said. Travel Weekly
Jet2, based in Leeds, said customers won’t pay more than the price at booking. The airline added it will offer flexibility and quick refunds on cancelled flights or holidays. Jet2 said it hasn’t used a fuel surcharge before.
Jet2’s pledge ties in with Bournemouth Airport, where the carrier set up a more recent base. In February, the airport said Jet2 is adding 5% more capacity from Bournemouth for the summer, bringing in new routes to Kos and Reykjavik and planning to use two aircraft based at the airport to run the schedule.
UK airlines are being warned by the regulator over flight cancellations tied to rising jet fuel prices. The UK Civil Aviation Authority said airlines that cancel flights because fuel got more expensive probably can’t claim “extraordinary circumstances”, which can restrict compensation. The CAA also told airlines not to sell tickets for flights they don’t reasonably expect to run. Travel Weekly
Passengers won’t see a lot of difference right now. According to the CAA, airlines still have to offer a refund, rebook the flight as soon as they can, or rebook later if that’s possible when a UK flight is cancelled.
Jet2 isn’t the only one looking to reassure investors. Travel Weekly, referencing the Financial Times, said leaders at Ryanair, British Airways, and Wizz Air all claimed to have enough fuel for the next few months. Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary told the paper he had “almost zero concerns” about Europe’s fuel availability this summer. Travel Weekly
But the risk is still there. The International Energy Agency says oil stockpiles are dropping fast. Reuters reports some European jet fuel inventories are still close to record lows. Any new shock to shipping or refinery output could drive costs higher or trigger selective schedule changes.
Jet2’s main focus right now is trust. The airline is saying it won’t add surcharges and it’s holding to its schedule, aiming to keep last-minute bookings coming at a time when airlines bring in much of their yearly revenue. Summer is the “key earnings season” for carriers, and they want travelers confident about booking, independent aviation analyst John Strickland told Reuters. Reuters
Govt officials say passengers don’t need to change their travel plans yet, but should keep checking with their airline and on Foreign Office travel advice. Jet2 is sticking to its plan for now—the flights are still on, the price stays the same, and what matters next is fuel supply as the summer rush gets underway.
