A major airline has introduced changes to all its flights after oil and jet fuel prices rose due to the US and Israel’s war against Iran. Volotia, an airline based in the Asturias region of northern Spain, has reportedly asked passengers to pay a very small fuel surcharge on tickets purchased in advance.
This comes as airlines around the world are issuing warnings of canceled flights amid fears of jet fuel shortage.
According to reports, the policy could result in a post-purchase surcharge of up to €14 (£12) per passenger per flight. Volotia came up with the temporary policy on March 16 after oil and jet fuel prices surged following the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran. The company said that since the changes were implemented, 97% of customers still chose to travel as planned.
On Monday, Volotia said the surcharge only applies to tickets purchased after the March 16 rollout, meaning earlier bookings will be unaffected.
The airline insisted it followed European and Spanish consumer regulations, noting that customers were warned before purchasing and that the adjustment is automatic, linked to external benchmarks, and not designed to generate profit.
It explained that this mechanism is based on Brent crude prices and a fixed table, rather than the airline’s own discretion. Volotia previously highlighted its ‘Fair Travel Commitment’, which promises transparent pricing and flexibility, including free changes or cancellations up to four hours before departure.
Under this system, airlines check publicly available fuel prices seven days before a flight and adjust fares accordingly – adding surcharges if prices rise above a set limit or issuing refunds if they fall.
According to Volotia’s table, the highest surcharge is applied when oil rises above $105 a barrel, no surcharge is added when prices are between $65 and $75, and a refund is issued when prices fall below $65.
However, the move has been criticized by Spanish consumer association Facua, which has called for an investigation into the new pricing policy.
Facua said it is the first Spanish airline to impose the surcharge as it requested Spain’s Consumer Affairs Ministry to review the policy.
It further said the move could violate consumer protection laws that prohibit changing ticket prices after purchase, even if the adjustment results in a surcharge or refund.
A ministry spokesman told Reuters they had received Facua’s complaint and would look into it.
