‘No plans to reduce flights’

ITA Airways has no plans to cut flights.
The carrier has covered 80pc of fuel needs for the rest of the year.
Ticket prices may rise between 5pc and 10pc.
Jet fuel represents 30pc of total costs.
The airline examines technical measures for better fuel efficiency.

ITA Airways has confirmed it continues to operate without plans to reduce flights despite increases in jet fuel prices. The Italian carrier owned by the Lufthansa group has secured 80pc of its fuel needs for the rest of the year. Chief executive Joerg Eberhart addressed the impact of the US-Israeli war on Iran on costs.

The CEO shared details on ticket price adjustments. The group plans increases between 5pc and 10pc this year to offset the surge in fuel expenses. Fuel now costs twice as much as it did before the crisis and jet fuel accounts for some 30pc of total costs. Without hedging the carrier would have to increase prices by 30pc and this would prove difficult. Eberhart revealed the company examined technical measures to raise fuel efficiency.

The airline says it will now focus on fleet modernization and aims to lower the average age of its aircraft with more modern jets that improve fuel consumption.

Joerg Eberhart shared “Fuel now costs twice as much as it did before the crisis. Without hedging we would have to increase prices by 30pc, and this would be difficult.”