Monday jet fuel supply update for travellers to Spain, Italy, France | Travel News | Travel

Holidaymakers heading to Mediterranean hotspots are facing a tempting update as airlines battle fears over potential jet fuel shortages this summer.

Fares on key routes to destinations in Spain, Italy and France have fallen by double digits – in some cases dramatically – as carriers try to coax nervous travellers into booking. Prices have dropped by 10% or more on 15 popular routes, including flights from Heathrow Airport to Nice, Manchester to Palma, and Gatwick Airport to Barcelona.

In the most eye-catching example, fares between Milan and Madrid have plunged by as much as 44%, according to an analysis by the Financial Times.

The sudden discounts come as airlines grapple with a slowdown in bookings, with many travellers delaying holiday plans amid warnings that jet fuel supplies could be disrupted following tensions linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Industry figures say consumers are holding back so creating a high-stakes “confidence game” as airlines slash prices to fill seats ahead of the peak summer getaway.

One airline boss likened the current mood to the uncertainty seen during the Covid pandemic, warning there is still “a lack of visibility” over how the situation will unfold.

Analysis of fares between early April and early May shows prices falling on more than half of the busiest routes to southern Europe, particularly to beach favourites around the Mediterranean.

Crucially for families, the biggest drops are being seen on classic summer routes, with eight of the top 50 routes recording falls of 20% or more. By contrast, only a handful of routes have seen similarly steep increases.

Travel experts told the FT that holidaymakers were “freezing in the headlights” with the result that they are booking later than usual or switching to UK breaks instead.

Research suggests one in five Brits has already swapped an overseas holiday for a domestic trip this year, with another fifth considering doing the same.

Airlines are now being forced to stimulate demand with lower fares even as fuel costs rise and schedules are trimmed. Around two million seats have already been cut globally from May schedules, reflecting both higher costs and softer demand.

Budget carriers including easyJet and Wizz Air have acknowledged that customers are booking later, while also moving to reassure passengers.

EasyJet has pledged not to add fuel surcharges to existing package bookings, while British Airways has promised prices will not rise after holidays are paid for.

Despite the uncertainty, experts stress the vast majority of flights are still expected to operate.

Even in a worst-case scenario, only around 5 to 15% of flights could be cancelled and passengers would likely be moved onto alternative services.