Fuel shortages are “an extraordinary circumstance” and, therefore, do not necessarily give the right to compensation in the event of flight cancellation. Otherwise, if a flight is canceled due to the excessive cost of jet fuel, the right to compensation exists, as the latter is not an extraordinary circumstance. This is what can be deduced from the statements of the EU Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas atthe end of the video call of the ministers of the 27. The commissioner also added a fact: “At this stage the market manages the pressure and there are no indications of real shortages” of jet fuel
“If companies canceled flights it was not due to the lack of jet fuel, but due to the surge in fuel prices. The cancellation of some flights has nothing to do with evoking fuel shortages. And at the moment we have no evidence of massive flight cancellations in the coming weeks”, added Tzitzikostas.
“I would like to highlight that the EU holds emergency stocks” of jet fuel. “These stocks can and will only be released to the market if necessary. At this stage the market is managing the pressure and there are no indications of actual shortages,” he added. “Europe is ready to welcome all the tourists who will come this summer. Today it is even more important to send a message: Europe is a safe place to visit. We have codified passenger rights, in case of flight cancellations passengers have the right to request information, to ask for a refund and even compensation. Tourists who come to Europe have guarantees. Airline companies are obliged to assist passengers”, he underlined.
“As long as there are no extraordinary circumstances, the passenger has the right to obtain compensation. We believe that flight cancellations due to high fuel prices do not necessarily qualify as extraordinary circumstances.” Tzitzikostas underlined this.
“Good. Even if there was no need, given that the legislation is clear, it is good that consumer rights have been reaffirmed: if flights are cancelled, travelers will have the right to both a refund and financial compensation if they are not notified in good time” says Massimiliano Dona, president of the National Consumers Union.
“In particular, they will have the right to choose between reimbursement within seven days without penalty of the entire cost of the ticket and re-routing, i.e. boarding an alternative flight to the final destination as soon as possible or at a later date more convenient to them, depending on the availability of seats. As for the pecuniary compensation, it is triggered if the companies do not inform consumers within the established timescales, i.e. with at least 2 weeks’ notice, or 7 days in advance provided that an alternative flight is offered no more than 2 hours before the original departure time and that you can reach your final destination less than 4 hours after the originally scheduled arrival time, or less than seven days earlier, if an alternative flight is offered no more than one hour before the initial departure time which allows you to reach the final destination less than two hours after the originally scheduled arrival time” continues Dona.
“Furthermore, fuel surcharges cannot be applied if it is not a tourist package. For this reason we have already presented a complaint to both the Antitrust and ENAC to block this practice already adopted by the Volotea airline” concludes Dona.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced a meeting of the National Security Council on high energy costs and preparatory meetings began today. The Tagesschau24 website reports this, underlining that Economy Minister Reiche will meet representatives of the aeronautical sector today, with a focus on kerosene.
Merz, announcing the convocation of the National Security Council at the Hanover fair, explained that “the objective is clear: businesses and citizens must count on the security of supply of diesel, petrol and jet fuel”, recalls the German media’s website. The Council meeting, according to some German media, should be held tomorrow.
Ana and Jal anticipate the increase in fuel surcharges for tickets to May
The two main Japanese airlines, All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL), will bring forward by a month the increase in fuel surcharges for international tickets issued from May 1, citing the volatility of energy markets and the doubling of the price of kerosene recorded in March, as reported by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For long-haul routes to Europe and North America, the one-way surcharge goes from 31,900 yen (around 170 euros) to 56,000 yen for Ana (300 euros), while Jal will apply a similar increase from 29,000 to 56,000 yen. Regional routes are also subject to an increase: for destinations in South Korea the additional charges rise from 3,300 to 6,700 yen.
Both carriers have revised the tariff structure, increasing the levels of the fuel adjustment grid from 15 to 18. The new system would theoretically allow increases of up to 59,000 yen for North America, but for May and June bookings the companies have chosen to settle at the second maximum level (56,000 yen), also taking into account the effects of government aid for the sector. Passengers who have completed payment for their tickets by April 30th will not be subject to the new surcharges. The increase, the note reads, reflects the impact of tensions in the Middle East on crude oil prices and, consequently, on the cost of aviation fuel
RimborsoAlVolo, EU opens up to compensation in case of flight cancellation due to high fuel prices
The European Union opens the doors to compensation for passengers even in the event of disruptions related to aviation fuel. This was stated by RimborsoAlVolo, a company specializing in air transport and passenger assistance, commenting on today’s statements by the EU Transport Commissioner, Apostolos Tzitzikostas. “The EU’s position at this moment assumes enormous importance for millions of passengers as it unequivocally specifies that the cancellation of a flight by an airline for reasons attributable to the high prices of jet fuel does not fall within those exceptional circumstances which cancel the travellers’ right to compensation recognized by EC Regulation 261/2004. – explains the CEO of RimborsoAlVolo, Giuseppe Conversano – This means that all passengers left stranded due to the recent decisions of some airlines to cut some routes or reduce the number of flights as a consequence of the high cost of fuel, in addition to the right to assistance, rerouting on another flight or reimbursement of the ticket, they will also be able to request and obtain compensation of up to 600 euros provided for by community legislation”.
In particular, RimborsoAlVolo reminds you that compensation is always due if the cancellation of the flight occurs without at least two weeks’ notice, or in the period between two weeks and seven days before the departure date if an alternative flight is not offered with departure no more than two hours before the originally scheduled time and with arrival at the final destination a maximum of four hours after the originally scheduled time, or less than seven days before if an alternative flight is not offered with departure no more than one hour before the originally scheduled time scheduled and arriving at the final destination a maximum of two hours after the originally scheduled time.
The compensation amounts to 250 euros per passenger for flights of less than 1,500 km in length, 400 euros for routes between 1,500 and 3,500 km, 600 euros for flights over 3,500 km.
“A fuel observatory is coming, we will also monitor jet fuel”
“We will announce tomorrow the creation of a new Fuels Observatory, which will monitor the supply and stock levels of transport fuels.” The EU transport commissioner, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, said this in a press conference at the end of the meeting of transport ministers, anticipating that work will begin on aviation fuel. “We are working to ensure an alternative supply of jet fuel in Europe, such as type A fuel produced in the United States,” added the commissioner, further stressing that “any national release of fuel will have to take place in full transparency to avoid market distortions.”