British travel bosses gathered at an industry convention have warned that surging jet fuel costs will make holidays increasingly expensive for UK consumers. The price spike followed US military action against Iran in February, which sent fuel costs soaring. Although some major operators like Tui, easyJet and Ryanair locked in fixed-price fuel supplies for 2026, the underlying cost of jet fuel has remained far higher than expected. Tui UK and Ireland's managing director Neil Swanson said fuel represents a substantial portion of holiday expenses that consumers will struggle to afford.
Despite extreme heatwaves across Europe this summer, British tourists have shown little interest in changing their holiday habits or destinations. Travel firms report that customers still prefer hot summer beach holidays in traditional locations rather than exploring cooler northern alternatives. When Tui offered customers the option to switch away from Tunisia during a forecast heatwave reaching 45 degrees Celsius, there was minimal uptake. Garry Wilson, chief executive of easyJet Holidays, said the short-term demand outlook remains unchanged, with far more customers choosing Majorca than Scandinavian destinations.
Looking ahead, travel executives fear the wider economic squeeze will prove damaging. Mark Tanzer, chief executive of industry body Abta, warned that higher domestic costs driven by oil prices would tighten household budgets significantly. He also noted that certain holiday types could become more expensive and scarce, citing examples including skiing as snow retreats higher up mountains, and river cruises after low water levels stranded Danube passengers this summer.
Climate-related disruptions are becoming routine. Intrepid Travel recorded 185 extreme weather incidents affecting its customers last year, compared to a handful when the company started. The firm has stopped offering active summer travel tours in southern Europe due to excessive heat, and is now launching tours in lesser-visited destinations as repeat customers exhaust traditional options.