Gulf impasse to dent ’26 travel - ‘Airfares high, jet fuel rises many fold’

KUWAIT CITY, May 13: The CEO of the government sector at Jazeera Airways, Nasser Al-Obaid, confirmed that the global aviation sector has been significantly impacted by the war in the region, particularly as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted the export of global fuel produced by Gulf states and Iran. Speaking to the daily, Al-Obaid pointed out that the most prominent repercussions of this war are expected to negatively affect the global travel season this summer by 30 to 40 percent.

He revealed that some airlines have declared bankruptcy due to the enormous losses they have incurred as a result of the war in the Middle East. Al-Obaid summarized the crisis facing global airlines during the war as stemming from three main reasons: the scarcity of aviation fuel and its price increase from $82 per barrel before the war to $230 currently. He explained that the second reason relates to the rise in airfare prices, which has led to global disruption in the international aviation market. The third factor is the shift of many tourists towards non-air travel methods, such as trains and buses, due to the high cost of airfare. Although Jazeera Airways’ operations were rerouted through Saudi Arabia during the war, they were still affected by 25 percent. Al-Obaid revealed that operations are no longer as strong as they were before the war, noting that while Jazeera Airways used to refuel in Saudi Arabia during the war, refueling is now done in Kuwait through the Kuwait Fuel Company (KAFCO). He added that current refueling is at prevailing international prices, unlike the pre-war rates.

By Najeh Bilal Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff