How much more expensive are airline tickets this summer and which passengers will pay the biggest deal

News that the passengers of the national airline will Air Serbia have to count on reaching deeper into their pockets during this summer did not come as a bolt from the blue, but as a consequence of tectonic disturbances in the energy market.

Director of Commercial and Strategy of Air Serbia, Boško Rupić, told RTS that the company did not make extreme moves in the previous period, but he pointed out that ticket prices will go up.

"There are surcharges on the name fuel,, but those who have already bought tickets will not pay extra. We have over a million tickets sold for this year, we advise you to use promotions, buy tickets in time to avoid additional costs," Rupić said.

Photo: Tanjug

How much will the surcharge be?

He explained that the surcharges for return flights on behalf of those taxes are generally double-digit 20-30 euros, but on longer destinations such as the USA or China, they go up to 100 euros.

Rupić points out that the company operates profitably and that there are reserves to compensate for the current situation.

"Companies cannot transfer all the burden to passengers, we have reserves from previous years, last year we operated with a profit of 45 million. So, there are reserves, but there is no point in spending them in the short term," stated Rupić.

He explained that Air Serbia is supplied with kerosene produced at the Refinery in Pancevo.

"When it comes to fuel supply in Belgrade, there are no problems, there are also reserves. If everything stops, we will have reserves in Serbia for a month and a half, but we also fill fuel at all destinations where we fly. In principle, the situation is stable," Rupić said.

The Director for Commercial and Strategy of Air Serbia added that traffic optimization has also taken place, but also points out that the existing flights will not be cancelled. It is only possible that there will be a reduction in the number of flights to certain destinations.

Photo: Time

Appeal to Brussels: Urgent measures due to the shortage of kerosene

While Air Serbia is supplied with kerosene from the Pancevo Refinery, and so far there are no problems with fuel reserves, the largest European companies warned the relevant EU institutions in Brussels last week that carriers across Europe could face a serious shortage of kerosene. They are asking Brussels for urgent measures to alleviate the consequences of the crisis caused by the tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.

Europe is facing a shortage of kerosene: Airlines are asking for urgent intervention from Brussels

Companies such as Lufthansa, Air France and Ryanair are asking Brussels to assess the availability of kerosene, intervene in the market and organize joint fuel procurement at the EU level, modeled after the mechanism introduced after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The pressure also comes from the airport. The Airports Council International (ACI), a global association that represents the interests of airport operators around the world, also warned European officials that unless transit through the Strait of Hormuz normalizes within the next three weeks, the EU could face a systemic shortage of jet fuel. The letter to the energy and transport commissioners emphasizes that air connectivity generates around €851 billion of GDP and supports as many as 14 million jobs in Europe.

Photo: AP Photo/Hassan Ammar

How much has the price increased?

The war in the Middle East and additional problems in the aviation industry have contributed to the fact that the increase in the price of aviation fuel is already directly passed on to passengers, and a number of large airlines have begun to introduce specific surcharges or announce price increases.

One of the most popular companies in this area, Hungary's Viz Air has not yet officially announced a specific increase in air ticket prices or the introduction of special fuel surcharges, despite rising costs in the industry.

At the same time, the increase in fuel prices is already affecting the company's operations. According to the Aviopress portal, Viz Air estimates that its profit will be lower by around 50 million euros, precisely because of more expensive fuel and operating costs. This drop in profits indirectly indicates that ticket price corrections could follow in the coming period, although they have not been officially announced for now.

Flights in question: Europe is running out of kerosene

And while the Hungarian company has resisted price increases for now, the list of those who are forced to make such a move is getting longer.

Germany's Lufthansa has introduced additional environmental and fuel taxes that, depending on the route, increase the ticket price by between 1 and 72 euros per passenger, while on long flights the increases approach the upper limit. The company states that it covers the increase in fuel costs and regulatory obligations, according to the official announcement of the German airline.

Scandinavian SAS did not specify the exact amount of the fare increase, but confirmed that the prices have already increased and that additional corrections are expected. As a result of the increase in fuel costs, the company simultaneously canceled about 1.000 flights in one month, which indirectly affects the increase in prices through reduced supply, writes the "Investing" portal.

Photo: Time

The British British Airways has not introduced a specific price increase for now, but through its parent group IAG announced that the price increase could follow later, after the expiration of the existing fuel contracts. Currently, there is no precise percentage or amount, which makes the company stand out as one of the few major carriers that is still delaying a direct hit on passengers.

Low-cost easyJet also did not release a specific percentage, but warned that fares would rise as existing fuel stocks bought at lower prices were used up. The company is already recording tens of millions of euros in additional costs and announcing price increases during the summer season.

Asian carrier Cathay Pacific has increased fuel surcharges by around 34 percent on most routes, with additional flight cuts to amortize costs.

India's IndiGo introduced specific surcharges: about 900 rupees (about 10 euros) for flights to the Middle East and up to 2.300 rupees (about 25 euros) for Europe, which represents a direct increase in the ticket price per passenger.

China Eastern Airlines has raised fuel surcharges on domestic routes to 60 yuan (about $9) for short-haul flights and 120 yuan for long-haul flights, increasing fares linearly with distance.

Through the joint company SunExpress, Turkish Airlines also introduced a temporary fuel surcharge of 10 euros per passenger on flights between Turkey and Europe, which applies to all new bookings.

Photo: AP Photo/Altaf Qadri

Increasing delays at most European airports

In parallel with the increase in ticket prices and baggage fees, European airports are also facing increasing problems in the punctuality of flights. According to the Eurocontrol report, delays remain frequent despite a slight improvement in overall accuracy.

Among the most threatened hubs are Lisbon, Zurich and Nice, while Lisbon recorded the lowest percentage of punctual departures in Europe, with only 49 percent of flights departing on time.

On the other hand, the airports in Bergen, Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Leipzig record significantly better punctuality, with a rate above 80 percent.

Istanbul Airport, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, London Heathrow Airport and Charles de Gaulle Airport stand out among the busiest European hubs.

In total, the European network records around 30.000 flights per day, and in the summer season the number reaches 35.000.

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