Your support helps us to tell the story Read more Support Now From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more
Amsterdam's Schiphol airport is set to offer airlines a temporary 10 per cent discount on airport charges, aiming to alleviate the financial strain caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The measure, applicable only to daytime flights, will run from 27 April until 31 March 2027 at one of Europe's busiest and most expensive aviation hubs.
In a statement, Schiphol explained its decision: "The airport is taking this measure because airlines’ costs have risen unexpectedly and sharply as a result of high kerosene prices."
While acknowledging a "temporary negative" impact on its financial results, the airport does not anticipate any disruption to its planned investments over the next decade.
The broader aviation industry is grappling with the fallout from the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has significantly disrupted global energy supplies.
Many European airlines are preparing for a challenging spring and summer period as the cost of tickets is likely to jump. Numerous carriers have also cancelled flights to and from the region, with some postponing resumptions until later this year.
Schiphol, one of the busiest and most expensive airports in Europe, will offer a temporary 10 per cent discount on airport charges from 27 April 27 to 31 March, 2027 ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )
United Airlines and Lufthansa are the latest airlines forced to mull raising air fares and scrapping flights following a dramatic surge in jet fuel prices, driven by the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.
United’s CEO announced the airline may need to raise fares by as much as 20 percent, while Lufthansa’s airline group announced the cancellation of 20,000 flights in bids to protect their airlines from the soaring cost of oil.
Costs have rocketed from approximately $85 to $90 per barrel to an alarming $150 to $200 per barrel in recent weeks.
This represents a substantial financial hit for carriers, where fuel can constitute up to a quarter of operating expenses. As a result, airlines are being compelled to raise fares and revise their financial outlooks.
The European Commission on Wednesday proposed a series of measures to address the impact on the region's energy markets from the US-Israeli war with Iran.
The Commission said the measures - announced in a package called 'AccelerateEU' - included optimising the distribution of jet fuel between EU countries, in order to avoid shortages.