Thousands of air passengers are having their plans disrupted as Aer Lingus announces a string of cancellations in the weeks ahead, blaming“ mandatory maintenance” of its fleet as the main reason. This raises the obvious question of why this maintenance requirement was not originally built into its schedule for the months ahead. No doubt the rise in fuel prices has also had an impact.
As a result, those who booked with the airline face having their plans disrupted, even if Aer Lingus assures us that most are being accommodated on flights which take off the same day as the ones being cancelled.
Is this a sign of things to come? Certainly higher jet fuel prices and the threat of supply shortages if the situation in the Middle East does not calm down are likely to have most airlines looking at their schedules. Like many other businesses, they do so against the background of significant uncertainty, but the likelihood is that jet fuel prices will remain higher and could well be in short supply at some locations.
More trouble for travellers is likely to lie ahead, even if it is impossible to judge the extent of it. Prices will rise. Less profitable routes may be trimmed and where airlines serve a route with multiple flights a day, these may be consolidated. This will raise the risk for airlines of losing valuable landing slots at airports. Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association, the representative body, has said more widespread cancellations could be on the cards from late May. He has called for airlines not to lose their slots if they need to adjust for a period.
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This appears reasonable, but the airlines have a responsibility to customers, too, including those who have booked flights and those intending to do so. They need to be as upfront as they can be in outlining their plans, identifying routes at risk, offering customers alternatives when flights are cancelled and, where it is a legal right, providing clear routes to claiming compensation.
Too often in the past airlines have been poor at dealing with complaints and made it difficult for customers to claim what they are due. Ryanair topped the list of companies complained about in 2025 to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
Passengers also need to be aware of their rights. There are EU rules which allow compensation in some cases – such as long delays or flights cancelled at short notice – but those affected need to make a claim. The rules for cancelled flights should ensure customers are generally told with a few weeks’ notice of any changes, as airlines will want to avoid being liable for compensation.
Airlines do face a challenging summer. But most are profitable and need to look after their customers properly. Transparency in their plans is the first requirement.
