War in Iran and kerosene shortage: can travelers assert rights against airlines?

• Air travel has become a little more uncertain since the start of the war in the Middle East.
• With kerosene prices rising, airlines are increasing ticket prices or canceling flights.
• But travelers have rights to assert.

The price of a barrel of oil has reached record levels since the start of the war in the Middle East at the end of February 2026. A significant increase which raises fears of a shortage of kerosene. As the summer holidays approach and the sunny days set in, this could have direct consequences for those who had planned to travel by plane.

In normal times, according to the National Federation of Aviation and its Trades (nouvelle fenêtre) (FNAM), fuel accounts for 21% of the price of the plane ticket. But it fluctuates a lot with crises. At the moment, this represents more than 45% of the price with certain companies. At the same time, flights have already been canceled. In these cases, travelers have rights to assert.

If your flight is canceled, you can be compensated

In the event of cancellation of your flight, as is the case in May and June with Lufthansa and Transavia for example, you are protected by the European regulation on air passenger rights (nouvelle fenêtre). Companies are required to offer an alternative solution or a full refund within seven days. If you are informed of the cancellation of your flight less than fourteen days before departure, you are entitled to additional compensation of between 250 and 600 euros depending on the flight distance.

To claim this compensation, you must keep all proof of ticket purchase and the flight cancellation notification including the increase in the price of kerosene. With these supporting documents, you can send a letter of complaint to the company invoking European Regulation No. 261/2004 which states that: “an operating air carrier is not required to pay the compensation provided for in Article 7 if it can prove that the cancellation was due to extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.“The war in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz may be considered exceptional circumstances and this regulation may apply to fuel issues related to the conflict in the Middle East.

If the company refuses to compensate you or does not respond within two months, you have two options: contact the Tourism and Travel Ombudsman (MTV), a mandatory step before any legal recourse since February 2026, then, if mediation fails, bring the matter before the competent court. You can also report the breach to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC).

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Surcharge after purchase: what does the law say?

When flights are not canceled, prices may increase. If they go up in flames before you buy them, there’s absolutely nothing you can do. On the other hand, if a surcharge is imposed on you after purchase, it is worth looking into your rights. “The customer receives a letter informing him of the amount of this surcharge. Either the passenger agrees to pay this surcharge, or he refuses and is reimbursed”, explains Gilles Gosselin, representative of the company in France in The Tribune (nouvelle fenêtre).

If the tickets were purchased as part of a package with a travel agency for example and the possibility of this surcharge was indicated in the general conditions of sale (CGV), it is legal. For flights alone, the line is blurrier. Under French law, airlines have the right to add surcharges in the event of tax or “exceptional circumstances” specified in the General Terms and Conditions. But European law is stricter. For him, the price displayed for purchase must be final.