Widespread flight cancellations are not expected in France despite soaring jet fuel prices, the country’s minister said on Friday.
France’s Transport Minister has assured travellers that he does not expect the country to see widespread flight cancellations this summer.
Despite price rises causing concern among some in the aviation sector, there will be “no mass cancellations this summer” to airlines flight schedules, Minister Philippe Tabarot said.
Speaking on Europe 1 and CNews, Tabarot stated that fuel price volatility caused by conflict in the Middle East would not lead to cancellations over the busy summer season because airlines generate a significant proportion of their revenues in that period.
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“On the contrary, flight schedules will be adhered to and the French will be able to travel wherever they wish. And above all, conversely, tourists from all over the world will be able to come to France,” Tabarot said.
“These are crucial months for these companies because airlines generate 70 percent of their revenue between July and August, so they have no interest in cancelling flights. And this period needs to go particularly well for them, otherwise the start of the new season could be more complicated,” he added.
This comes as industry leaders also say the chances of widespread cancellations in France and around Europe this summer are “very low”.
International Air Transport Association head Willie Walsh has said that Europe has enough jet fuel to last until the end of May, but after that, the picture varies depending on the country.
France is not one of the worst affected countries. It is currently estimated that, with fuel reserves released, it has enough fuel to last until the end of September.
READ ALSO: Risk of summer flight cancellations in France ‘very low’
Arnaud Aymé, a transport specialist at the consultancy firm Sia, recently told French media RMC that he regards the risk of cancellations over the summer holiday period – July and August – as “very low”.
He said: “This is a period when flights are full, and tickets are sold at higher prices, so it’s a time when flights are usually very profitable.
“They will certainly be less so, or even much less so, with the explosion in the cost of jet fuel, but they will still be profitable, and so it is in the airlines’ best interests to maintain all their flights.”
He added, however, that for airlines struggling with price increases, cancellations in May or June are possible.
READ ALSO: Which airlines are cancelling flights and adding extra charges?
