Irish airline Aer Lingus has cancelled hundreds of flights from its summer schedule amid growing concerns over jet fuel shortages caused by the ongoing blockade at the Strait of Hormuz. The airline is axing scheduled transatlantic, European, and local flights on various days over the coming weeks, according to the Irish Independent.
Affected Routes
Services set to be affected include flights to and from Seattle, San Francisco, Minneapolis-St Paul, Toronto, Berlin, Zurich, Athens, Faro, and Amsterdam. Flights to London Heathrow, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham, and Edinburgh will also be cancelled, with passengers rebooked onto other services.
Aer Lingus Statement
A spokesperson for Aer Lingus stated that the airline has “commenced operating its planned summer schedule,” and as a result, “a number of recent cancellations have been required due to mandatory maintenance on aircraft, along with a limited number of schedule adjustments.” Aer Lingus said it will reschedule the majority of passengers on alternative same-day services where possible.
Wider Industry Impact
Thousands of flights have already been cancelled across the industry, including German airline Lufthansa cutting 20,000 European short-haul flights over the summer, with more planned as airlines grapple with warnings of fuel shortages. Jet fuel prices soared to $195 per barrel at the end of March, up nearly $100 from the end of February when the war began. As the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues, airlines are issuing warnings that fuel could run out ahead of the busy summer travel season.
IEA Warning
The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih Birol, said Europe has only about six weeks of jet fuel supply on hand and warned of flight cancellations if supplies remain blocked.
New ID Policy for Irish to UK
The Aer Lingus cancellations came as its new ID requirement policy, matching Ryanair’s, came into effect. The Irish airline now requires a valid passport or Irish passport card for all passengers on flights between Ireland and the UK. Previously, because Ireland was in the Common Travel Area, IDs like driving licenses were accepted. However, as with Ryanair, this has now changed.
EU Entry/Exit System Delays
The airline cancellations and policy requirements come at a time when the European Union rolled out its Entry/Exit System (EES), leading to severe delays and missed flights for British passengers. The new EES obliges non-European Union nationals, including Britons, who enter the Schengen free travel zone to register biometric information, including facial scans and fingerprints. However, Ireland is exempt as it is not in the Schengen area.
