Iberia, Vueling and Air Europa promise “no summer cancellations, no fuel surcharges” despite jet-fuel spike

Spain’s three largest network carriers have moved to reassure corporate travel buyers worried about the global jet-fuel crunch triggered by the Strait-of-Hormuz blockade. Iberia, Vueling and Air Europa said on Wednesday that they will keep their full summer schedules and will not impose last-minute surcharges on tickets already booked. The statement contrasts sharply with capacity cuts announced by rivals across Europe, notably Lufthansa’s decision to axe 20,000 flights. Iberia’s president Marco Sansavini stressed that Spain refines roughly 40 % of the aviation fuel consumed in the EU, giving the carriers a buffer that peers in land-locked markets lack. Vueling echoed the message, underscoring its policy that the price shown at booking “is the final price.” Air Europa confirmed it sees no need to trim frequencies on its long-haul Latin-American network. For mobility managers the pledge removes a major variable in a summer already complicated by air-traffic-controller strikes at 14 regional towers and the roll-out of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES). Travel-management companies note that hedging strategies and fuel-efficiency measures have allowed Iberia and Vueling to absorb cost shocks without passing them on to travellers—at least for now. The carriers’ stance could also influence corporate sustainability reporting. Had flights been cancelled, many firms would have rerouted travellers on less direct itineraries with higher emissions. Maintaining the published timetable supports predictable, more efficient routing plans. Analysts warn, however, that the situation remains fluid. Should geopolitical tensions in the Gulf intensify, even Spain’s relatively robust supply chain might have to prioritise critical routes. Procurement teams are advised to keep flexibility in travel budgets and monitor fuel-price clauses in negotiated fares.