British Airways (BA) has issued a statement to customers regarding potential cost increases. The UK’s flag carrier airline posted the statement on its social media channels.
In a post entitled ‘The British Airways Holidays Promise’, it stressed that existing customers would not see an increase in the cost of their holidays if they had already booked, even if their operating costs increased.
The cost of jet fuel has roughly doubled since the start of the US-Israeli strikes began on Iran in late February. It remains high, despite a pause in hostilities and rumours of a conclusion to the conflict.
It added that the ‘cost of your holiday won’t change once you’ve booked your trip’. The statement in full read: “Book with confidence, whatever’s happening in the world.
“The price you book is the price you pay. Once you’ve booked your flight or holiday package, the price you’ve paid is locked in and won’t change, even if our costs increase later.
“You can secure your holiday with a low deposit now and spread the agreed cost over time. The cost of your holiday won’t change once you’ve secured your trip.
“When you book a package with British Airways Holidays, we offer you a dedicated helpline, 24/7, in case you need assistance during your trip. All packages booked in the UK with British Airways Holidays are ATOL protected, giving you peace of mind from the moment you book and while you’re away.
“If your flight is cancelled, as part of a British Airways Holidays package or flight only booking, we’ll always offer you the option to rebook onto another flight or to accept a full refund under UK and EU Regulations. Your holiday is protected, so you can focus on looking forward to it.”
It comes after it was confirmed that BA’s fees will rise as the company tries to claw back some of its losses. The Guardian reports a €2bn (£1.7bn) hit to its finances as a result in the surge in jet fuel.
The International Airlines Group (IAG) said its annual fuel bill was now expected to be about €9bn, up from the forecast €7.1bn. It expects to recover about 60 per cent of the €2bn hit through ‘revenue and cost management actions’, with BA set to bear the brunt of the fare increases.
Credits: British Airways
