Rising oil prices are affecting airlines around the world, and Spanish "low cost airline" Volotea has had to take drastic action. The low-cost carrier announced some adjustments to its schedule a few days ago and cancelled flights for the summer season. Also, it is taking another step and announced that it will introduce a surcharge of up to 14 euros, which will be charged to passengers before they fly if fuel prices rise.
The company explains that it has chosen “not to introduce arbitrary fixed fuel surcharges,” but instead to adopt a “transparent and fair” measure to protect travellers and ensure operational stability, minimizing the impact in a constantly evolving global environment currently marked by the war in Iran.
In this regard, Volotea explains that it will use market fuel prices from public sources as a reference seven days before the flight’s departure and, if necessary, will adjust ticket prices up or down. In the event of an increase, the airline will apply a surcharge of up to 14 euros per passenger per flight; conversely, if prices decrease, it commits to refunding customers the difference up to that same amount.
The focus of Volotea's route network is on destinations around the European side of the Mediterranean coast as well as Western and Southern Europe.
Volotea serves metropolitan and leisure destinations mainly in Spain, France, Italy and Greece with destinations in Austria, Croatia, Czechia, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway and Portugal[ Volotea served its first African destination (Tangier, Morocco) on 5 April 2019.