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Britain’s biggest budget airline, easyJet, says it intends to operate its full summer schedule – despite concerns about possible aviation fuel shortages caused by the Iran conflict.

The carrier’s chief executive, Kenton Jarvis, told the BBC Today programme: “We’ve seen absolutely no issues with fuel supply at any of our airports in the UK, across Europe, or indeed beyond. We stay in very close contact with our fuel suppliers, airports, governments, and they are equally raising no issues looking forward.

“What is true is obviously there’s a lot less oil coming from the Gulf region, but fuel suppliers have successfully diversified with production increased in Norway, in West Africa, in the Americas. Refining capacity for jet fuel has also increased substantially outside of the Gulf region.”

In March, the airline reduced the number of available seats by 0.3 per cent due to the high fuel price. But Mr Jarvis said: “At easyJet, we fully intend to fly the summer schedule that we have on sale.”

His comments echo those of Steve Heapy, CEO of rival Jet2, who said on Wednesday: “The current picture is one of increased production and imports, meaning we continue to look ahead with confidence. We have already been very clear about our plans to operate our schedule as normal this summer, and our message to holidaymakers is that summer is on.”

EasyJet reported sharply increased losses for the first half of its financial year, covering October 2025 to March 2026. The company lost £552m, up 40 per cent compared with a year earlier. It represents an average loss of £13 for each of the 42 million passengers flown.

The airline’s CEO told Today presenter Nick Robinson: “Airlines typically make losses in the six months to March as they run through the winter and then look to make the profits as we operate in the summer.

“We actually saw our airline capacity increase by four per cent, and six per cent more passengers came with us because the planes were fuller.

“So demand was there, but the pricing was not increased versus last year.”

The carrier has raised its minimum fare and is conducting an “active review of all discretionary cost”.

Looking ahead, the easyJet CEO said: “Demand seems to be very strong in what we call the late market.

“As we ran through April, demand was very strong for the month of April. We’re seeing it again in May. But as you look further out, people are more cautious. People are waiting and watching, but they are booking as as you approach, and I expect that strong late booking market to run through the summer.”


He later told analysts that fares for the summer are “slightly above where they were last year over peak season”.

EasyJet has 72 per cent of its fuel requirement hedged for the summer months, falling to 53 per cent for the winter season. It has suspended its normal hedging strategy “due to elevated near-term fuel prices”.

Mr Jarvis also described delays caused by the EU entry-exit system as “completely unacceptable”.

Since 10 April 2026, all Schengen area frontiers are supposed to be running the digital borders scheme and checking the biometrics of “third-country nationals” – of whom British travellers comprise the major share.

Already airlines including easyJet have left passengers behind due to the length of passport queues on departure from the EU to the UK.

“This is completely unacceptable,” Mr Jarvis said. “I’d encourage all the European countries is to use the flexibility that’s been given to them by the European Commission, that they can phase the introduction of this if they see queues in peak times.

“They can go back to normal border force control with stamping of passports, so they should use this.”

Greece has said biometric checks will not be imposed on British arrivals and departures until further notice.

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