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• IATA chief: It could take several months for jet fuel supplies to recover following the reopening of Hormuz

  Even if Iran were to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, it would still take months before jet fuel supplies could'recover' due to disruptions in Middle East refining capacities. Oil dropped below $100 per barrel after U.S. president Donald Trump announced he had agreed on a ceasefire for two weeks with Iran, subject to an immediate and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz normally transports about a fifth of world oil trade. Willie Walsh (director general of IATA, the International Air Transport Association) told reporters in Singapore, that although he expects crude oil prices will fall, jet fuel costs are likely to remain slightly higher due to the impact refineries have on the cost. Walsh stated that even if the refinery were to reopen, it would still take months for the supply to reach the level it needs to be, given the disruption in the Middle East's refining capacity, which is an important?part of global supply, not only of jet fuel but also of other refined products. As the Middle East conflict has squeezed jet fuel supplies, airlines across Asia are cutting flights, bringing extra fuel to their home airports, and adding fuelling stops. This is adding pressure to an industry that was already hit by a doubled price of jet fuel. After?China, Thailand, and South Korea stopped jet fuel exports, the pain was felt most in low-income markets that depend on imports, such as Vietnam and Myanmar, and Pakistan. Walsh said that if crude oil started flowing again, "I'd like to believe" that China and South Korea would resume their exports of refined products. Walsh stated that "there is (refining capacity) available once we get crude oil flowing. But it will take some time. And with the crack spread being 'elevated,' I think this provides an incentive for refineries to increase production of jet fuel." The crack spread is a measure of refinery margins. Reporting by Lee YiChin in Singapore, and Julie Zhu from Hong Kong. Editing by Anne Marie Roantree Christian Schmollinger Jamie Freed

• Asian airlines cut schedules, carry more fuel in tight supply conditions

  As the Middle East conflict reduces jet fuel supplies in some countries, airlines across Asia have cut flights, added refuelling stations, and carried extra fuel from their home airports. This is adding pressure to an industry that has already been hit by a "sharp increase" in fuel prices. According to Kpler, European carriers should prepare for a similar disruption after Iran's closing of the Strait of Hormuz halted nearly 21% of the global supply of?seaborne?jet fuel. Oil shocks in the past primarily increased prices. This one, however, is also limiting physical supply and forcing governments, airports, and airlines to consider rationing. Shukor Yusof is the founder of aviation consultancy Endau Analytics. "They are concerned about the future because they don't know what will happen with the war and when we will know the supply chain or the feedstock will be coming from the Gulf region," he said. Analysts say that Asia, Europe, and Africa are the most vulnerable regions, as U.S. supplies are abundant. In Asia, the most affected markets are those with lower incomes, which depend on imports, such as Vietnam and Myanmar. Bo Lingam, the CEO of AirAsia X, told reporters that they now load extra fuel before flying into Vietnamese airports. He said that Vietnam limits the amount of gasoline they provide. JET FUEL RATIONING In the past, airports have experienced temporary jet fuel shortages caused by shipment disruptions or contamination. This has usually resulted in rationing and not complete outages. The airlines have responded by adding refuelling stations on longer routes, or by carrying less cargo. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary, who expressed concern that the Middle Eastern conflict might not end in this month, said last week that cutting flights could be a solution to a prolonged crisis. He told reporters that if there is a 10% or 20% risk in the fuel supply for June, July or August then we will be forced to cancel some flights or reduce capacity. Asia, with a smaller supply cushion and a greater dependence on the Hormuz flow, was 'hit faster. According to the aviation authority of Vietnam, Vietnam Airlines has reduced 23 flights domestically per week in order to save fuel. Cirium, a provider of aviation data, reports that some airlines in Myanmar have cut back on capacity for April due to fuel shortages. According to a source with knowledge of the situation, Air India will refuel in Kolkata when returning from Yangon to Delhi because fuel is short at Yangon Airport. A notice sent to pilots reveals that due to the Middle East crisis, Tahiti International Airport in the South Pacific has limited refueling for international flights to only the quantities necessary for flight operations. Pilots in Pakistan are advised to bring the maximum amount of fuel from abroad. This practice is expensive because it increases fuel consumption by carrying more fuel. Brendan Sobie is an independent aviation analyst based in Singapore. He said that some countries were better off than others. Some countries may limit (fuel) for foreign airlines which leads to tankering. Some countries may be doing this because they fear running out. DEMAND DESTRUCTION Some airlines have cut their capacity due to the more than doubled price of jet fuel since the beginning of the Iran War, while others have raised fares and added fuel surcharges. Batik Air Malaysia, for example, has reduced its domestic capacity by 36 percent. CEO Chandran Rama Muthy described the cuts as necessary and proactive in response to the "crisis mode" environment. He said that if we continued to operate without making any adjustments, the company would be exposed to more operational and financial risks. Due to the conflict, Gulf carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways are operating at a much lower capacity than normal. Other global airlines have also reduced flights because fuel cost increases deter travellers. Analysts said that even with flight reductions, the airline demand does not fall fast enough to match a drop in jet fuel supply. Since the start of the crisis, 'calculations' show that at least 400,000 barrels of jet fuel per day that is normally produced in Asia-Pacific via crude that passes through the Strait of Hormuz has been affected. Alex Yap is a senior oil products analyst with Energy Aspects. He said that there was no easy way to replace the lost volumes. According to industry sources, flight cancellations have only reduced the demand for oil in Asia by 50,000-100,000 barrels per day. This suggests that deeper cuts are needed. Ellis Taylor, Cirium Asia's Asia Editor, said: "We are only at the beginning of this cycle (of flight reductions) because demand seems to be resilient. However, I believe any oil-spike-induced economic slowdown will hit demand in second half of year."

• AirAsia X is committed to opening Bahrain hub despite Middle East Conflict

  'Budget carrier AirAsia X' said on Monday it remained committed to opening a planned Bahrain hub in 'June. However, the airline’s?chief exec was non-committal about if?the plans will go ahead if?the Middle East conflict continues. AirAsia X announced in February that it would resume flights between Kuala Lumpur and London via its Bahrain hub. This was the airline's first flight outside Asia. Services were due to start on June 26. This announcement was made before the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes against Iran that took place later in the month. These airstrikes disrupted air travel across the Middle East and many airlines cancelled routes to avoid the airspace. Bo Lingam, AirAsia's X chief executive, told a news conference that the Bahrain service will definitely be offered if the conflict ends before June. However he declined to confirm if they would continue in the event of a prolonged conflict. When asked if AirAsia?X would explore alternative routes to Europe via existing flights in Turkey, he replied, "Anything is possible." Jet fuel prices have soared during the conflict and the airline, which took over the short-haul business in January from its former parent Capital A, has been?hit hard. Bo stated that fuel shortages in Asia led to some countries - including Thailand and Vietnam - limiting plane refuelling. Tony Fernandes, a Capital A CEO and AirAsiaX co-founder, said that the airline would need to increase fares in areas where it cannot cover fuel costs. Jet?fuel is now up to $300 a barrel in certain markets. Fernandes, however, said that demand for flights was still 'high' and he felt confident that?the airline will return stronger once the crisis is over. Fuel surcharges have been raised by around 20% and fares increased between 31% to 40%.

• Shipping data shows that a tanker loaded with Iraqi crude oil passes through Hormuz.

  Data from LSEG/Kpler showed that an oil 'tanker' loaded with Iraqi crude was seen transiting the Strait of Hormuz near the Iranian coast a few days after Iran announced Iraq was exempted from any restrictions on transiting this vital -sea route. Kpler data shows that the Ocean Thunder loaded approximately 1 million barrels of Basrah heavy crude on March 2. It is expected to "discharge" its cargo in Pengerang, Malaysia by mid-April. Iran closed the Strait after U.S. airstrikes and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February escalated a conflict. Later, it said that vessels without U.S. and Israeli connections would be allowed to pass through the strait. In recent days, three Omani tankers, as well as a French-owned container vessel?and a Japanese owned?gas carrier?have crossed.

• Fuel costs are increasing, so airlines are reducing their prices and cutting back on their outlook.

  The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, which has pushed up jet fuel prices, has shook the aviation industry around the world. Airlines have been forced to increase fares and revise their financial forecasts. In recent weeks, jet fuel prices have increased from $85-$90 per barrel to $150-$200 per barrel. This is a major financial blow to an industry that relies on fuel for up to 25% of its operating costs. Here is an alphabetical list of the ways airlines are responding to this issue: AEGEAN AIRLINES The Greek airline anticipates that the suspension of Middle East flights, as well as the spike in fuel costs, will have a "notable impact" on its results for the first quarter. AIR FRANCE-KLM The airline group announced that it would increase the price of long-haul tickets to offset rising fuel costs. Cabin fares will rise by 57?euros (50?euros) per round trip. AIR NEW ZEALAND On March 10, the airline was among the first to announce a large increase in ticket prices. The airline also halted its earnings projections for the full year due to volatile fuel markets. AKASA AIR Akasa Airlines, based in India, announced that it would be imposing a fuel surcharge on both domestic and international flights ranging from 199 to 1,300 Indian Rupees ($2 - $14). AMERICAN AIRLINES Fuel prices are on the rise, and American Airlines expects to incur $400 million more in expenses for the first quarter. CATHAY PACIFIC Hong Kong Airlines announced that it will increase its fuel surcharges by 34% on all routes starting April 1, and to review them every 2 weeks. The CEO of the carrier said that it would maintain its flight capacity despite high fuel costs, but warned that its 10% growth plan for passenger capacity could be altered if demand drops due to high fuel prices. CEBU AIR The Philippines-based carrier said that the sharp increase in fuel prices is a major concern. It will continue to review pricing and network strategies and try to minimize the impact. EASYJET EasyJet CEO Kentonjarvis warned that European consumers can expect to pay higher prices for tickets towards the end of the summer when fuel hedges will end. FRONTIER AÉRIENS Fuel prices have increased dramatically since the airline's forecast. HONG KONG Airlines The airline announced that it would increase fuel surcharges up to 35% starting March 12, with the largest increases on flights between Hong Kong, the Maldives and Bangladesh, and Nepal. Charges would go from HK$284 to HK$384 (49 dollars). British Airways' owner IAG announced on March 10 that it does not intend to raise ticket prices immediately as it has hedged a large amount of fuel in the short to medium term. INDIGO India's largest airline announced that it will introduce fuel charges for domestic and international flights starting March 14. The charge for flights into the Middle East is 900 rupees and for flights to Europe, 2,300 rupees. Sources say that the company also lobbys for the Indian government to reduce fuel taxes. JETBLUE AERWAYS Low cost airline based in the United States has announced that it will increase fees for optional services, such as checked luggage, due to "rising operating expenses." The company announced that baggage prices would increase by $4 or $9. KOREAN AIR A source familiar with the situation said that South Korea's flag carrier would enter emergency mode in April as rising oil costs weigh on its costs. The airline will implement phased responses based on the oil price level and increase company-wide efficiency to offset rising fuel costs. PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS Fuel surcharges are cited as the reason for raising domestic fares up to $20, and international fares up to $100. Scandinavian Airlines announced that it would cancel 1000 flights in April due to high fuel and oil prices. In March, the airline said that it had cancelled "a couple hundred" flights. SAS, which has already raised flight prices, said that even if they tried to absorb rising fuel costs, it would still be a major blow to the aviation sector. SPRING AIRLINES Budget Chinese airline announced that it will increase fuel surcharges for domestic flights starting April 5. Details to be announced in due course. THAI AIRWAYS The Thailand-based airline said that it would increase fares between 10% and 15% in order to combat rising fuel prices. LUFTHANSA, TURKISH AIRLINES SunExpress, the joint venture between Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa and Lufthansa announced that it will impose a temporary 10 euro fuel surcharge per passenger on routes between Turkey, Europe and Middle East from May 1. The fuel surcharge will be applied to all bookings made after April 1 and for departures after May 1. UNITED AIRLINES Scott Kirby, CEO of the U.S. carrier, said that the airline will cut unprofitable flights in the next two quarters to prepare for the oil price remaining above $100 by the end 2027. Andrew Nocella, United's Chief Commercial Officer, said that the company was able to increase fares in response to a rapid rise in jet fuel and oil prices. In an email, the carrier said that it would also be increasing the first and second checked bags fees by $10 to customers travelling in North America, Mexico, Canada, and Latin America. VIETJET A potential fuel shortage has led to the Vietnamese budget airline reducing flight frequencies on certain routes. VIETNAM Airline Vietnam's aviation authority announced that the carrier would cancel 23 flights a week on domestic routes starting in April after it requested government assistance for the removal of an environmental tax. VIRGIN AUSTRALIA Virgin Australia announced that it would be adjusting its fares in order to reflect the rising costs across the aviation sector, which were being exacerbated significantly by the Middle East situation. GREATER BAY Airlines Greater Bay Airlines, based in Hong Kong, said that it would increase fuel surcharges for most routes starting April 1, due to increased fuel prices related to the Iran War. However, charges on routes to mainland China and Japan will remain unchanged. The carrier has announced that the surcharge on flights between Hong Kong, Philippines and other destinations will be more than doubled.

• UKMTO: Tanker struck by two projectiles in Qatar, including one that was unexploded

  The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said a tanker'struck off Qatar' was hit by two projectiles. One exploded and the other remained unexploded inside the engine room. The tanker was hit about 17 nautical miles (31km) north of Qatar’s industrial hub?Ras Laffan, causing damage to the vessel above the waterline. The crew were safe and there were no reported environmental impacts. UKMTO stated that it could not confirm the origin of the projectiles, and investigations were still ongoing. The incident occurs as a result of 'growing threats to maritime travel in the wake of the U.S. - Israel conflict with 'Iran. Kuwait announced?on Tuesday that one of their fully loaded oil tanks?was attacked off Dubai and?triggered a fire. In recent days, maritime authorities reported "multiple incidents" involving vessels in Gulf waters.

• German Minister rejects windfall taxes idea, pushes commuter tax breaks

  The German economy minister proposed on Friday giving higher tax incentives to 'commuters' but rejected proposals from 'the junior coalition partner of the government for an energy windfall tax', bringing into the open a dispute about how to combat soaring fuel costs. Germany, Europe's biggest economy, was already suffering from a weak global growth rate and tariff disputes. The Iran War has caused the largest-ever disruption in global energy supply. The measures must be targeted. The measures must be targeted at the areas that are most affected. Katherina Reiche, Economy Minister, told reporters that commuters and the "logistics sector" are among them. Germany offers commuters tax breaks that are calibrated based on the distances they travel. They can deduct a portion of their driving costs between home and a primary work place from their taxable income. Reiche, highlighting tensions between the conservatives of Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the Social Democrats of Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, branded Klingbeil’s proposals as "expensive" and "ineffective". Klingbeil proposed an energy windfall-tax, hoping to regain policy initiative after his party suffered painful losses at two regional elections in this year. Reiche stated that the proposal violated Germany's Constitution. She said: "I categorically oppose the windfall tax." Esra Limbacher, the Deputy leader of the Social Democrats' group in parliament, said Reiche wasn't fit for her position. Limbacher said to the Rheinische Post that it was regrettable that an economics minister viewed herself as representing the oil companies, instead of working together with her coalition partner to provide relief for many small businesses. Reiche, also the energy minister, has called for a temporary reduction in diesel taxes on trucks and more direct payments for people who travel long distances for work. Germany has already taken some measures. One of them is limiting petrol prices to one increase per day. (Reporting and editing by Matthias Williams, Christina Fincher and Kirsti Knolle)

• Ghana cuts fuel taxes as Iran war drives up prices

  Ghana will remove certain fuel taxes and charges levied by retailers and distributors along the?supply?chain to cushion consumers?from the rising pump?prices caused by the?Middle?East Conflict, said government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu on Thursday. He said that the measures will be implemented within a week. However, the exact levies that are to be eliminated won't be determined until stakeholder consultations have been held in the next few days. Ghana imports 70% of its refined fuel. It is one of many African countries that have seen steep increases in pump prices as a result of the U.S./Israeli war against Iran. The National Petroleum Authority raised the mandatory minimum prices for the April 1-15 pricing window. This pushed petrol up by around 15%, to 13.30 Cedis ($1.21) a litre (0.26 U.S. gal), and diesel up by roughly 19%, to 17.10 Cedis ($1.55). In approximately one week, the government will consult with stakeholders ahead of the next "pricing window". We know the exact amount. Kwakye said that it would be significant. The suspension would be for the first four weeks and then the government would review. He said that the Iran conflict was the sole cause of the price increases. Transport Minister has been asked to expedite the deployment of Metro?Mass Buses along high-traffic routes, with fares that are lower than those charged by private operators. This will ease commuters' burden. Reporting by Emmanuel Bruce, Editing by Clement Bonnerot & Elaine Hardcastle

• Starmer and Trump discuss military options in the Strait of Hormuz

  Keir Starmer, British Prime Minister, said on Friday that he had discussed military capabilities and logistics of moving ships through the Strait of Hormuz with U.S. president Donald Trump the day before. Starmer stated during his visit to the Gulf that "we've been pulling a coalition together of?countries... working on an?political, diplomatic plan... but also?looking into military capabilities and... the logistics of moving vessels through the Strait." "That was the main focus of last night's discussion - a reflection on the topics I have been discussing, as well as a focus on implementing a practical plan in relation to navigation across the Strait." He didn't provide any further details. Starmer didn't answer directly when asked if he had discussed the U.S. threat of a?withdrawal?from NATO, but he did say that the alliance was both in?the U.S. as well as Europe's interest. He said that NATO is a defensive alliance 'which has kept us safer than we otherwise would have been for decades.

• Fuel costs are increasing, so airlines are reducing their prices and cutting back on their outlook.

  The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, which has pushed up jet fuel prices, has shook the aviation industry around the world. Airlines have been forced to increase fares and change their financial forecasts. In recent weeks, jet fuel prices have increased from $85-$90 per barrel up to $150-$200 per barrel. This is a major financial blow to an industry where fuel can account for as much as a quarter or more of its operating costs. Here is an alphabetical list of the ways airlines are responding to this issue: AEGEAN AIRLINES The Greek airline anticipates that the suspension of Middle East flights, as well as a spike in fuel prices will have "notable impacts" on their first-quarter results. AIRASIA X Malaysian Airlines executives announced that the company has cut 10% of its flights in the group and imposed a fuel surcharge of around 20%. AIR FRANCE-KLM The airline group?said that it planned to raise long-haul ticket fares to deal with surging fuel prices, and cabin?fares are set to increase by 50 euros ($58). AIR INDIA The Indian flag carrier announced that it would change its fuel surcharge from a flat domestic surcharge to one based on distance. The airline said that surcharges for international routes do not compensate the steep rise in jet fuel costs. AIR NEW ZEALAND On April 7, the airline announced that it would cut flights in May and June, and raise fares. It was one of the first airlines to announce a large increase in ticket prices after the conflict began. The airline also suspended its earnings forecast for the full year due to volatility in the fuel markets. AKASA AIR Akasa Airlines, based in India, announced that it would be imposing a fuel surcharge on both domestic and international flights ranging from 199 to 1,300 Indian Rupees ($2 - $14). ALASKA AIR The U.S. carrier said that it would raise fees by $5 for the first bag and $10 for the second for flights in North America, as well for Hawaiian Airlines. The third checked bag was raised from $50 to 200 dollars. AMERICAN AIRLINES The U.S. carrier announced that it will increase the fees for checked baggage by $50 for the third bag and $10 for the second on short-haul flights and domestic flights. The airline has also reduced?certain benefits to economy passengers. The fuel price increase was expected to cause a $400-million increase in the first quarter expenses. CATHAY PACIFIC Hong Kong Airlines announced that it will increase its fuel surcharges by 34% on all routes starting April 1, and to review them every 2 weeks. The CEO of the carrier said that it will maintain flight capacity, despite high fuel costs. However, its 10% passenger growth plan may change if there is a decline in demand due to high prices. CEBU AIR The Philippines-based carrier said that the sharp increase in fuel prices is a major concern. It will continue to review pricing and network strategies and try to minimize the impact. CHINA EASTERN EXPRESS AIRLINES Air China said that it would increase fuel surcharges on domestic flights starting April 5. Flights under 800km will be charged a surcharge of 60 yuan, and flights above 800km will be charged a surcharge of 120 yuan. DELTA AIR LINES Delta announced that it would reduce capacity by 3.5 percent from its original plan, and increase fees for checked baggage in order to offset the rising costs of jet fuel. The price increase will be $10 for the first and second bags and $50 on the third bag. The U.S. carrier pulled all planned growth in capacity for the current quarter, and forecast profits below Wall Street expectations. Delta CEO said that it would not update its full-year forecast due to uncertainty about how long fuel prices would rise. EASYJET EasyJet CEO Kentonjarvis warned that European consumers can expect to pay more for tickets at the end of the summer when fuel hedges end. FRONTIER AÉRIENS The airline is reviewing its full-year forecast as fuel prices have increased significantly since it issued the outlook. The airline has revised its forecast for the full year as fuel prices have increased dramatically since it released the outlook. GREATER BAY Airlines The Hong Kong-based firm said that it will increase fuel surcharges for most routes starting April 1, but keep them the same on routes to mainland China and Japan. The carrier has announced that the surcharge on flights between Hong Kong, Philippines and other destinations will be more than doubled. HONG KONG Airlines The airline announced that it would increase fuel surcharges up to 35% starting March 12. The biggest increases would be on flights between Hong Kong, Bangladesh, and Nepal where the charges would go from HK$284 to HK$384 (US$49). British Airways' owner IAG stated on March 10, that it does not intend to increase ticket price immediately as it has hedged a large amount of fuel in the short to medium term. INDIGO India's largest airline announced that it will begin charging fuel fees on both domestic and international flights as of March 14. The charges include 900 rupees per flight to the Middle East, and 2,300 rupees per flight to Europe. Sources say that the company is lobbying for fuel tax reductions by the Indian government. JETBLUE AERWAYS As a result of "rising operating expenses", the low-cost carrier in the United States has increased fees for optional services, such as checked baggage. The airline said that baggage prices would rise either by $4 or $9. Sources with knowledge on the subject have confirmed that KOREAN will be in emergency mode as of April due to rising oil costs. The airline will implement a phased response based on the oil price level and increase company-wide efficiency to offset rising fuel costs. PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS The carrier announced that it would increase domestic flight fares up to $20, and international fares up to $100. It cited higher fuel surcharges. Scandinavian Airlines announced that it would cancel 1,00 flights in April due to high jet fuel and oil prices. In March, the airline had cancelled "couples of hundred" flights. SAS, which has already raised flight prices, stated that even if they tried to absorb rising fuel costs, the price increase would still be a major blow to the aviation industry. SPRING AIRLINES Budget Chinese airline announced that it will increase fuel surcharges for domestic flights starting April 5. Details to be announced in due course. SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST SOUTHWAST AIRLINES The American carrier announced that it would increase the fees for checked bags by $10 each for the first two bags. This will bring the cost to $45 and $55 respectively for the first bag. The Portuguese airline claimed that its price increases would partially offset the impact of fuel prices changes on its revenues. THAI AIRWAYS The airline based in Thailand said that it would increase fares between 10% and 15% due to rising fuel prices. TURKISH AIRLINES LUFTHANSA SunExpress, the joint venture between Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa and Lufthansa announced that it would be imposing a temporary fuel charge of 10 euros per person from May 1, on routes between Turkey and Europe. The fuel surcharge will be applied to all bookings made after April 1, for departures after May 1. UNITED AIRLINES Scott Kirby, CEO of the U.S. carrier, said that the airline will cut unprofitable flights in the next two quarters to prepare for the oil price remaining above $100 by the end 2027. Andrew Nocella, United's Chief Commercial Officer, said that the company was able to increase fares in response to a rapid rise in jet fuel and oil prices. In a statement sent via email, the carrier said that it would also be increasing the first and second checked bags fees by $10 to customers traveling in North America, Mexico, Canada, and Latin America. VIETJET A potential fuel shortage has led to the Vietnamese budget airline reducing flight frequencies on certain routes. VIETNAM Airlines Vietnam's Aviation Authority announced that the carrier will cancel 23 flights per day on domestic routes starting in April after it requested assistance from the government to remove an environment tax on jet fuel. VIRGIN AUSTRALIA Virgin Australia announced that it would be adjusting its fares in order to reflect the rising costs across the aviation industry, which were being exacerbated significantly by the Middle East situation. WESTJET Canadian Press reported that the airline would add a fuel surcharge of C$60 ($43), and will combine some flights to reduce costs.

• Dubai restricts foreign flights until May 31. Letters show that Indian airlines are the hardest hit.

  Due to the Iran Crisis, Dubai has limited foreign airlines to only one?flight per day to its airports. This has triggered revenue loss concerns among Indian carriers, which had more flights planned than any other airline. In a March 31 letter to the Indian government, the Federation of Indian 'Airlines (FIA), which represents IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet as top carriers, asked India to pressure Dubai authorities to lift curbs. If that didn't work, it suggested taking reciprocal measures against Dubai carriers such as Emirates and flydubai. Indian carriers have already been put under financial strain by higher fuel costs and longer routes to Western destinations due to the ban on using Pakistani airspace that has been in place since last year as a result of military tensions between two neighbours. Dubai Airports, in a March 27 private email, said that carriers will be allowed to make one round trip a day between the smaller Al Maktoum International Airport and Dubai International Airport, the busiest hub for international travel. The FIA said that carriers are limited to only one rotation a day until the capacity permits more. Additional slots will then be assigned if there is capacity available. The FIA notified the Indian government that curbs are not being applied to Dubai airlines like Emirates and flydubai. This could result in "substantial revenue losses". Dubai Airports and Dubai's Media office have not responded to requests for comment. Flydubai stated that its flight schedules had been approved by the appropriate authorities. Emirates did not reply to a comment request. Emirates and other Gulf carriers have complained for years about India's bilateral agreements on air services that limit the number of seats a country can deploy between nations. Indian authorities claim that such agreements protect Indian airlines from the fierce competition in the market. INDIAN CARRIERS HARDEST HIT by CAPS India was the biggest source of passengers at DXB in 2025 with 11,9 million travellers. Cirium's April and May schedule data shows that Indian airlines will be the most affected by the Dubai cap. Air India Express and Air India have more than 750 flights scheduled into DXB during that time period. IndiGo is the leader with 481, followed closely by Saudia, Gulf Air and Gulf Air who have planned 480 and 404 flights, respectively. SpiceJet, India's airline, had planned 61 flights. According to Flightradar24, the cap of one flight per day would be 30 or 31 flights for each airline. This is compared to the hundreds daily flights flown by Emirates & flydubai. IndiGo said in a press release that the Middle East Crisis and the new Dubai Extended restrictions "significantly restricted" its operations, as it had a summer schedule approved of 15 flights daily from India to Dubai. IndiGo stated in its first remarks on the crisis that "a significant part of IndiGo’s capacity and aircraft times are currently underutilized." Air India, SpiceJet, and the Indian authorities have not responded to requests for comments. Before the crisis, Indian carriers had fewer flights than other major airlines such as Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines. They have now cancelled all flights until May 31. Instead, they are adding more nonstop Asia-Europe flight to take advantage the strong passenger demand which has driven up prices.

• Trump says Iran shouldn't charge tankers traveling through the Strait of Hormuz any fees

  Donald Trump stated on Thursday that Iran should not charge any fees to tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The area has been "blockaded" since the beginning of the Iran War, causing global energy supply to be disrupted to the greatest extent in history. Trump posted on Truth Social that there are reports Iran charges fees to oil tankers passing through the Hormuz Strait. "They should not be doing that, and if they do, they need to stop right away." Reports in the media suggested that Iran may 'want to charge a levy for passing ships. Western leaders have rejected the idea of paying such fees. Hamid Hosseini, spokesperson of Iran's Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters' Union, was quoted by the Financial Times as saying that Iran would demand cryptocurrency toll payments to maintain control over 'Hormuz' during a 2-week ceasefire between the U.S. Trump stated in a separate tweet, without further explanation, that "you will see Oil flowing with or without Iran's help." On February 28, the U.S., Israel and other countries attacked Iran. Iran responded by launching its own strikes against Israel and Gulf States with U.S. bases. The war has risen oil prices and shook global markets. U.S. and Israeli?strikes against Iran, as well as Israeli attacks on Lebanon, have resulted in the deaths of thousands?and the displacement of millions. Trump announced on Tuesday a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, having threatened to destroy Iran’s entire civilization. The volume of ship traffic through the Strait was well below normal levels on Thursday, despite the fragile truce. Tehran maintained its control over the situation by admonishing ships to stay within its territorial waters. The war brought the traffic through the Strait, which is a chokepoint that accounts for 20% of all global oil and LNG shipments, to a near standstill.