Airlines can be exempted from paying compensation for cancelled flights only if they can prove a local fuel shortage caused the disruption, but high fuel prices alone do not qualify as “extraordinary circumstances,” the European Commission has said.
The guidance was issued amid fuel‑supply disruptions and route closures linked to the Middle East crisis. The Commission also said airlines cannot retroactively add fees such as fuel surcharges, noting that EU rules require final ticket prices to be displayed upfront.
Passengers affected by cancellations remain entitled to reimbursement, re‑routing, airport assistance and compensation for last‑minute cancellations.
The Commission said airlines may be exempted from the 90‑percent fuel uplift rule under ReFuelEU Aviation — which requires aircraft to carry additional fuel from departure airports — if shortages occur. Carriers may also be excused from landing and take‑off slot obligations when fuel is unavailable at certain airports.
Separately, the EU Aviation Safety Agency issued a bulletin on the use of Jet A fuel — common in North America — as an alternative to Europe’s standard Jet A‑1, warning of operational risks due to different freezing points.
Europe’s aviation sector is facing its most severe crisis since the 2020 pandemic, with Middle East conflicts pushing jet‑fuel prices to multi‑year highs and forcing major carriers to adjust operations. The guidance follows warnings from the International Air Transport Association that cancellations could begin as early as late May if shortages persist.