NewsUK NewsEasyJetEasyJet warned that the Middle East crisis is pushing up fuel costs and creating 'near-term uncertainty around customer demand' as it revealed its financial performance for the summerLaura Hill and Neil Lancefield 08:53, 21 May 2026Updated 08:53, 21 May 2026EasyJet has revealed that summer flight bookings are trailing behind last year's figures amid uncertainty sparked by the war in the Middle East.‌The budget airline has sold 58 per cent of its seats for the six months to the end of September, a drop of two percentage points compared with the same period last year.‌However, last-minute bookings made within the month of departure are actually up year-on-year.‌The carrier posted a half-year pre-tax loss of £552 million, which falls within the range it outlined in a trading update back in April, compared with a loss of £401 million the previous year.EasyJet cautioned that its financial performance through to the end of September will be hit by the conflict, which is pushing up fuel costs and creating "near-term uncertainty around customer demand".‌The airline revealed last month that the conflict set it back around £25 million in elevated jet fuel prices in March alone.Oil prices - which have a considerable bearing on jet fuel costs - surged following Iran's grip on vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz.Concerns have been raised that some UK flights could face cancellation due to potential fuel shortages.‌Despite this, easyJet chief executive Kenton Jarvis insisted the airline is "not seeing any disruption to fuel supply", encouraging passengers to "book with confidence".He added: "Despite conflict in the Middle East creating near-term uncertainty, easyJet is well placed to manage the current environment, supported by one of the strongest investment-grade balance sheets in European aviation."Jet2 summer 2026 updateOn a more positive note, Jet2 announced on Wednesday that production has increased and that additional imports are arriving from regions unaffected by the conflict in the Middle East.‌A statement on Jet2's website reads: "These positive developments mean that Jet2 is continuing to look forward to taking customers on their well-deserved holidays this summer. Today's update follows a report issued just last week, which saw Jet2 top a UK resilience ranking as the best protected UK airline against elevated fuel costs."Jet2 has confirmed it will operate as normal throughout the summer. It was amongst the first airlines and tour operators in the UK to guarantee customers that no additional charges would be applied to any booked flights or holidays to cover rising costs, such as jet fuel.The airline continued: "The company has also reaffirmed its reputation as a consumer champion by pledging that customers will continue to benefit from flexibility and swift refunds in the unlikely event of any flight or holiday cancellations.Article continues below"Throughout the Covid pandemic, Jet2 earned widespread praise for the way it refunded customers quickly and efficiently, unlike many other companies in the industry, and has today confirmed that it will continue to follow its guiding principle of putting customers first."Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Middle EastOil pricesEasyJet