He predicted as many as 10% of his airline’s flights could be canceled if the crisis doesn’t end soon. And he advised travelers to book as soon as possible, as the rocketing price of fuel is almost certainly going to impact ticket prices.
Jet fuel prices have surged more than 100% over the past month as the Middle East conflict disrupted energy supplies.
The Ryanair chief recently told Sky News he would expect jet fuel supplies to start being disrupted in early May if nothing changes.
He said Ryanair was "reasonably well hedged" on 80% of its fuel but added it is paying almost double (at around $150 a barrel) on the other 20%.
Speaking to ITV News, the airline boss revealed that between five and 10% of flights in May, June and July could be canceled if the Strait remains closed.
He explained: ‘We have aircraft that are based at 95 airports across Europe.
"And we’ll have to cancel routes at whichever airport where the fuel company advises us they’re short of jet fuel at, say, Malaga Airport or Athens Airport.
"It’ll be those kinds of decisions. And we’ll get very little notice – we’ll be told, I think, within five or seven days.
"So we will then be looking around, and we will be trying to ground one or two aircraft and minimize inconvenience for customers. But it’s going to be difficult, it’s going to be challenging."
O’Leary admitted that some holidaymakers may get stuck abroad due to flight cancellations, but noted that airlines have a responsibility to get you home.
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He said: "Now, you won’t get compensation because it’s clearly beyond the airline’s control, but we will, and in Ryanair’s case we have lots of flights on a daily basis, we will re-accommodate you and get you back.
"You might be stuck for a day or two, but if you’re staying within Europe, you should be reasonably confident."
Asked if it would be a “gamble” to book a summer holiday, O’Leary admitted, “life is a gamble”.
He continued: "I think we’re looking at the risk of five or 10% of cancellations in June or July, but 90 to 95% of flights will still operate.
"So, I think you’re really not taking much of a gamble. I would be much more concerned if you delay your booking, that actually you and your family will be paying much higher prices if you get to May, June, or July."
The blame for any cancellations should be laid at the feet of the US President, not the airlines, the Irish airline boss added.
He added: "There doesn’t seem to be any exit plan at all. But we are where we are, blaming Trump is not going to get us anywhere."
O’Leary said that this would be an "unknown scenario" for the airline industry and that "the sooner this war is over, the better".
* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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