Customers very upset against Volotea which cancels dozens of flights from France because of geopolitical instability in the Middle East

Several weeks before their vacation, many French people who had purchased a ticket from the low-cost airline find themselves without a solution. And the justifications are not well received.

The announcement is sudden and especially late. In Brittany, Normandy, the North, Charentes-Maritimes… Hundreds of people who were supposed to travel with Volotea for Easter holidays have all been hit with a cold shower: their flight is simply and purely canceled a few weeks before their departure. Several destinations such as Corsica, Italy, or Spain are affected. Just from Caen, 11 flights to Ajaccio are canceled, as well as from Brest.

With its customers, the Spanish low-cost airline justifies by highlighting “the ongoing geopolitical instability in the Middle East, we were forced to make limited adjustments to our flight schedule for the months of April and May. These adjustments are necessary to ensure the stability of our short-term operations and to maintain a reliable service, while minimizing disruptions as much as possible.”

However, Volotea only serves Europe and the explanations might have to do with the soaring cost of kerosene, which has doubled in recent weeks. Some airlines were covered (by buying fuel in advance), others raise their prices, and still others cancel flights.

“On us, we are faced with a fait accompli, I blame them for this way of doing things. And the reason given is false, Volotea only serves Europe… Isn’t it more related to the cost of fuel?” wonders Alain, a resident of Lille who was supposed to go to Corsica in April, interviewed by Actu Lille.

“By doing some research, I realized that other companies had anticipated this increase in fuel costs, but Volotea did nothing…” rages Frederic, speaking to La Liberte, a Norman who was also supposed to go to the Isle of Beauty.

The late announcement of these cancellations puts its customers in awkward situations. “I am currently negotiating with my hotelier to postpone my booking for a year. He confirmed to me that I was not the only one in this situation. Down there, tourism professionals are very angry about these cancellations that they are experiencing head-on,” explains Frederic.

Context: Volotea is a low-cost Spanish airline that operates mainly in Europe.

Fact Check: The cancellation is linked to geopolitical instability and a significant rise in fuel prices. The airline offers options to rebook flights or get a full refund, but no compensation is offered if passengers are informed more than 14 days before the flight.