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Wildfires in Britain reach record levels following intense heat
Fire chiefs warned that wildfires have reached a record in England and Wales. They also said that rescue services are struggling to keep up with the rising risks. This comes a day after wildfires swept from tinder dry fields to engulf homes on the hottest day. Britain may not have faced the same devastation as Spain, France, and other parts of Europe, but it has seen more fires than ever before. Phil Garrigan is the chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council. He said that the number of fires has now exceeded the total of last year, which was 1,017. Garrigan, without revealing the latest figures for this year, said: "We have far exceeded the previous high from 2025." We're still in the middle of August and it seems that the wildfire season will continue into November. We're expecting this to be not only a "record-breaking" year, but also a significant increase in the number of fires. Residents tell of trees exploding in flames As fires raged in central England, hundreds of homes were destroyed on Thursday. Stourbridge resident describes the moment his family and he decided to leave their home. "I heard a shout, and the trees were exploding along the railroad track. The trees weren't only on fire; they were also exploding. Paul Nash said, "We just grabbed all the stuff and left." Nash stated that his house remained standing despite the damage to his garden. This was in contrast to other homes on his street which had been destroyed by fire. According to government figures, Britain is on course for its hottest ever summer. Five heatwaves have caused around 45 million people to live in drought-hit areas and 27 millions people face restrictions on their water usage. Met Office reports that temperatures in London reached 38.2 degrees Celsius on Thursday. This is the fifth-hottest day ever recorded for the United Kingdom. Pershore, a market town in central England, reached 38 C. This was one of many areas where flames ravaged houses and fields. On Thursday, a major motorway had to be temporarily closed and the train schedules were also affected. Officials are yet to confirm if the heat was a factor in causing a derailment of a southern England train. Garrigan stated that "we've declared eleven major incidents?over the past 24 hours." The UK Fire and Rescue Service has struggled to meet the demands of fire and emergency services.
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Brazil police target former Rio governor Castro in new investigation, say sources
Two sources familiar with this investigation said that the Brazilian federal police carried out search warrants on Friday targeting former Rio de Janeiro Governor Claudio Castro. Castro's attorney said that the authorities did not search his home in a written statement. Brazil's Federal Police said in a?statement that did not identify suspects it was investigating allegations of fraudulent and...reckless management. It also investigated money laundering, tax avoidance, capital flight, manipulations on the market, and crimes against economic order. It added that the probe was examining money laundering in relation to the scheme as well as the alleged irregularity of the issuance of environmental permits for the refinery. In May, the former governor was also targeted by a second investigation into alleged tax evasion. Castro resigned in March. A court ruled that Castro could not hold office for the next eight years due to abuse of political and economic power and illegal fundraising. (Reporting and writing by Rodrigo Viga Gaier, Isabel Teles, Editing by Alex Richardson).
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Wildfires sweeping across Europe force hundreds of people to evacuate from resorts located in Croatia and Greece
Wildfires ravaged?homes overnight in a picturesque Croatian town, injuring forty people and forcing 1,200 residents to evacuate. EU officials warned that "extreme" wildfire conditions were spreading across the continent. Officials said that hundreds more people were evacuated from a resort in northern Greece, a village in southwest France and a large grass fire in England. Scientists attribute the record-breaking heat in Europe and the drought to climate change. This summer, wildfires have been raging across Europe, particularly in France, Spain, and Greece. The Balkans has also experienced several heatwaves. CROATIAN RESERVE: FLAMES TAKE OVER NIGHT-SKY RED Officials said that flames engulfed settlements and trees covering a total of?over 1000 hectares around Omis. Omis is a picturesque town located on Croatia's Dalmatian Coast, surrounded by trees, hills and rocks. The fire turned the night sky red. Slavko Slavkovic, Chief Fire Commander said that the fire "swept all in its path... There has been enormous material damage." He added that the fire seemed to have calmed down on Friday morning, with no visible flames. Health officials reported that seven of the 40 patients treated by ambulances were in serious condition. DINGHIES HELP RESCUE FROM GREEK SEASIDE TOWN People wearing masks, many with children or pets in tow, boarded boats and dinghies at the seaside town of Siviri, as a forest burned and smoke columns turned the clear sky dark grey. The coastguard said that over 300 people were evacuated from the town by boat. The town is located on a peninsula with woodlands, olive groves, and beaches, south of Greece's largest city, Thessaloniki. In addition to 140 firefighters, seven helicopters and nine aircraft, fishing boats were also used in the evacuation. Authorities in France evacuated 525 residents from Luglon after a wildfire broke. The fire was located near an area that had been devastated by major fires earlier this summer. Authorities in Spain removed remains of three kings from a monastery that was threatened by wildfire in the 11th century. Wildfire conditions in Europe are 'VERY EXTREME.' In its forecast for the week ending August 19, Copernicus?Climate Change Service of the European Union warned of "very?extreme conditions" across a large region of central and east Europe. Additional pockets were also noted over southern Britain, Ireland and northern France, as well as southern Sweden. Climate Monitor data showed that the average high temperature in Western Europe was expected to be 31.2° Celsius (88° Fahrenheit) on Friday. This is 8 C (14 F), or 14 F, above the 1961-1990 norm. It said that the temperature in Europe was 1.6 C (2.9 F), or 8 C, above 1961-1990's average. The dry, hot summer has also taken a toll on the agriculture. The French grain maize crop is expected to reach its lowest level since the 1970s as a result of severe heat and drought this summer, according to growers' association AGPM. Reporting by Alexandros Lisardakis and Antonis Pohitos in Greece; Daria Sito Sucic in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Stephanie Lecocq and Gus Trompiz, in France and Spain, and Conor Humphries, in Spain.
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Oil rally eclipsed by US inflation as stocks nudge to record highs
Oil prices rose on Friday as faltering negotiations to end the Iran war pushed global stocks higher. As the impasse in the peace talks continued, oil and gas prices are still expected to make a significant weekly gain. Investors are not showing any signs of panic. This week, short-dated bond rates have increased, but modestly. Meanwhile, several market-based inflation expectations measures have continued their downward trend. Gold, which is hurt by rising interest rates, has reached two-month highs. The focus is now on AI as a whole, following strong earnings which have helped to calm investor concerns about massive AI spending. GEOPOLITICAL UNCERTAINTY REMAINS The MSCI All-World Index, which has been up for the third week in a row, is trading just below records highs. In Europe, the STOXX600 gauge was a tad lower than the previous day as losses in tech were largely offset by gains among capital-intensive stocks such as automakers and defence. The markets ended the week with a 'positive note,' as the corporate and economic calendar was relatively free of event risks. It's Friday and, as is typical, geopolitical risk, or at the very least, bombastic rhetoric between the U.S. "At the moment, geopolitical uncertainties remain the only major macro-roadblock for a market that is experiencing'strong tailwinds due to earnings and monetary policy outlook. Brent crude futures remained steady at $87 per barrel and were on track for a weekly gain of 6%. European natural gas futures are expected to rise by 10%, while U.S. Gas futures will see a 3.2% increase. The VIX volatility index - which many see as the "fear index" of the market - was on track for its fourth consecutive weekly decline, the longest stretch of this kind since May 2025. This reflects the decreasing level of concern among equity investors. A measure of bond market volatilty is also heading for a second successive weekly drop. John Sidawi is a senior portfolio manager at Federated Hermes for fixed income. He said that a puzzling trend in the markets over the past few months has been a growing disconnect between geopolitical uncertainties and asset price volatility. For now, the markets seem to be willing to accept a considerable amount of uncertainty before demanding higher premiums. This equilibrium is not likely to last forever," Sidawi stated. "A meaningful escalation of conflict or a clearly defined?path towards resolution could finally force the investors to leave, potentially triggering much greater volatility than current market prices suggest." The yen is stuck in an intervention loop. According to three sources who are familiar with the policymakers' thoughts, the Bank of Japan may raise interest rates as early as September. It is still within reach of the 160 level, which traders believe could trigger a second round of yen purchases from Tokyo after a joint intervention by the U.S. Last month, the Japanese currency was not supported. Padhraic G Garvey, ING's head of global rates strategy and debt, explained that the yen is weak because of "an uber cautious Bank of Japan" and a policy interest rate which remains too low. Garvey said that rate increases can ease this tension. The sooner they are implemented, the better. While that may be seen as a negative for the economy, there is also a choice. Do you want to protect the yen or not? Prioritise the protection of the yen, or not? (Additional reporting from Ankur Banerjee, Singapore; editing by Sonali Paul and Alex Richardson)
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Tata Steel, the Indian soccer giant, sells top-flight team Jamshedpur to a rival for $1
Tata Steel has sold its entire stake in Indian Super League club Jamshedpur FC for 100 Indian Rupees ($1.05) to Goa-based Churchill Brothers on Friday. This comes two weeks after the conglomerate announced that it would be 'pulling out' of the ISL. Tata Steel announced that Churchill Brothers, the two-time national champions, will be taking over Jamshedpur’s sports licence to compete in the ISL and the contracts for 12 players and 2 coaches. Tata Steel Vice President of Corporate Services D. B. Sundara Ramam said, "We're glad this agreement allows our players and coaches to continue playing club soccer." Jamshedpur's players made an emotional appeal to their club's owners earlier this month to reconsider the decision to close the club. The club won the ISL League Winners' Shield for 2021-22, and the domestic Super Cup in the past year. Jamshedpur's fans flooded the streets in the days that followed to plead with the Tata Group to save the club. But Friday's announcement ended all their hopes. Churchill Brothers, located in the soccer-mad state Goa, is now the sole team in Jamshedpur. Jamshedpur is still in the Durand Cup and will play Mohun Bagan on Monday in the quarterfinals. TATA EXIT AMID UNCERTAINTY ISL Jamshedpur entered the ISL league in 2017, when it was sponsored by the Indian conglomerate Reliance. They are leaving the league less than one year after All India Football Federation's commercial partnership ended with Reliance. The ISL is yet to announce the fixtures for this season and the broadcaster. Sundara Ramam said, "We are grateful to AIFF and Churchill Brothers who have made this transition smooth." The AIFF has declined to comment. "BACK TO WHERE WE BEONG" SAY THE CHURCHILL BROTHERS Churchill Brothers, who played in India's top division last in 2013-14, hoped to get promoted to the ISL in 2024-25 after winning the second-tier I-League. The?AIFF appeals panel ruled Inter Kashi forfeited several matches because they fielded an ineligible player. Kashi won their appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and overturned the decision. They became champions. Churchill Brothers withdrew the following season from the league. The club posted a picture on Instagram saying, "We needed to be back home where we belong." "Our President Churchill Alemao... never stopped believing. He always finds a solution. While others saw decline, opportunity was what we saw. "While some saw the end of things, we saw a new beginning."
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HEALTH RUNDS-An experimental blood test detects high-risk lesions of the colon before cancer develops
In lab tests, we also found that a flavoring chemical in e-cigarettes damages human embryonic cells. A BLOOD TEST CAN DISCOVER PRE-CANCEROUS COLORECTAL LEES Researchers say that an experimental blood test for the detection of colorectal carcinoma also has promise as a way to prevent it. Commercially, there are several blood tests for colorectal screening. However, the new test can also detect precancerous polyps called advanced adenomas. The removal of these polyps may prevent cancerous cells from developing. The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology reported that they tested the assay on more than 1,500 adult participants in colonoscopy programs in China. Japan and Spain. They found that it detected 92% colorectal cancers in stage I, II or III and 81% advanced adenomas. The test also had a 85% accuracy rate in identifying those without precancerous lesion. In an editorial, researchers who were not involved in the study stated that "developing an acceptable, feasible and non-invasive test which can accurately detect precancerous colorectal lesions" could be a valuable tool in preventing colorectal carcinoma, as opposed to only detecting it. Researchers said that because the blood test can differentiate between low-risk and high-risk cancers and adenomas the test could be used to stratify the risk of patients who need an urgent colonoscopy. Colonoscopy is still the best method to screen for colorectal cancer. Blood tests and stool tests are only recommended for those who refuse or cannot comply. Studies have shown that patients who test positive for colonoscopies will be more likely to follow through. Researchers believe that larger trials of this new blood test is still required, mainly because it detected polyps (small bumps or growths) but was less effective in identifying flat or sessile areas of concern. E-CIGARETTE FLAVORING MAY IMPAIR EMBRYO DÉVELOPMENT Laboratory experiments indicate that a flavoring chemical used in high concentrations by e-cigarettes can disrupt the normal embryonic development in women who are pregnant and vape. Researchers investigated the effects on the flavoring vanillin using test tubes, as it would have been unethical to use the chemical in human embryos or pregnant women. The experiments showed that the human embryonic stem cell lines, which are similar to the ones found in embryos of three-week-old embryos, could differentiate into any kind of cell. Researchers found that when cells were exposed to micromolar amounts of vanillin they would tend to die, while nanomolar levels caused them to lose the ability to develop into all cell types. In a press release, Prue Talbot of University of California Riverside stated that "these changes?could be very serious and prevent normal development of an embryo." On the surface of embryonic cells, a protein known as TRPV4?binds to vanillin. Researchers found that when they blocked the action of the protein, vanillin's effect on?stem cell was also blocked. This led them to conclude that TRPV4 is responsible for the flavor's effect on cells. Researchers warn that test tube results do not guarantee the same effect would be seen in women or their embryos. In a report in Human Reproduction, researchers said that the study could 'help explain why vaping is linked to women who have?difficulty in conceiving or miscarriages. Talbot stated that women are not always aware of the chemicals contained in vape products. Our findings suggest that women should be cautious, and doctors should advise them not to vape while pregnant. This is especially true if they have trouble conceiving.
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Could Germany operate some of its coal-fired plants longer?
Germany has delayed its interim report on the impact of the 'lignite-out' in its largest state. This is fueling market expectations that the government may decide to run some plants a little longer than originally planned. Here is a brief summary?of the issue: What has happened? Germany and its largest power producer RWE agreed in 2022 to phase out lignite-fired electricity production in North Rhine-Westphalia by March 2030, eight years earlier than the national coal phase-out goal. By 2026, it can determine if the plan is working or if the security of supply of RWE's coal plants is in danger. This week, the economy ministry delayed the release of an interim report on impact of phase-out by August 15 to wait until the results of the tenders for gas-fired?power?plants that are taking place this year. Lignite is one of the most polluting fossil fuels. Why does it matter? Market expectations have been stoked by the delay. Germany may choose to place some RWE lignite plant with a capacity of 3.6 gigawatts until 2033 on'security standby' to meet demand. When asked about the issue?on Thursday?, RWE Chief executive Markus Krebber stated that the 2030 date had not changed and the government hadn't contacted the company for an extension. CAN GERMANY DO WELL WITHOUT?COAL? Technically, yes. There are?266 GW installed, but two thirds of this capacity is intermittent, as it comes from wind and solar farms that cannot provide a continuous supply. The planned coal-exit in Germany has led to a heated debate about whether Germany has sufficient baseload capacity. This was a major factor?in the decision to tender for new gas-fired plant?capacity. The far-right Alternative for Germany,?Germany’s largest opposition party, which currently leads national polls, is against the country's coal, nuclear, and other energy exit. They demand a reversal in order to avoid blackouts. (Reporting and editing by Clarence Fernandez; Holger Hansen, Christoph Steitz)
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Spain extends Almaraz Nuclear Plant Operation through 2030
According to an official order published on Friday, the?Spanish Government has extended the operation of?the?Almaraz Nuclear Plant by more than 2 years until June 2020. According to Spain's plan, which aims to decommission its five nuclear plants by 2035 the two reactors at Almaraz would be the first ones to start in 2027. Document: The extension will not affect the remainder of the decommissioning plan, but some analysts expect that other plants' operations may also be extended. The widespread blackout that occurred in Spain and Portugal between April 2025 and May 2025 re-ignited the debate about nuclear power in Spain. The order did not mention the blackout, but rather the more recent impact of the Iran War on fossil fuel supply. The decision was made after the owners of the plant, Iberdrola Endesa and Naturgy filed a request for an extension last year. Also, the nuclear safety council issued a report stating that the conditions must be met. GOVERNMENT STILL BACKS ZERO CARBON ECONOMY Spain’s socialist-led government has established ambitious green targets. It champions a rapid transition to a carbon-free economy, and bases its energy policies on a large deployment of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. Nuclear power plants provide a steady source of baseload electricity to complement intermittent renewable energy sources and generate carbon-free power. Document published on Friday stated that the expansion of nuclear power would only limit the deployment renewable energy sources by?1.4% in comparison to current climate plans. The natural gas-fired generation of electricity should decrease by 7%. The nuclear industry has been campaigning for lower taxes for nuclear energy for years, claiming that the taxes are a barrier to the competitiveness of the plants. Energy Ministry said that the extension would not be accompanied by a tax cut and wouldn't?increase costs for taxpayers. RBC analysts stated in a note that the decision was widely anticipated and "should imply an automatic extension of the Spanish nuclear plants", due to the logistical difficulties of dismantling multiple nuclear plants at once. Reporting by Pietro Lombardi, editing by Charlie Devereux and Andrei Khalip. Barbara Lewis.
Fuel costs are increasing, so airlines are reducing their prices and cutting back on their outlook.
The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, which has pushed up jet fuel prices, has shook the aviation industry around the world. Airlines have been forced to increase fares and revise financial forecasts.
In recent weeks, jet fuel prices have increased from $85-$90 per barrel up to $150-$200 per barrel. This is a major financial blow to an industry that relies on fuel for up to 25% of its operating costs.
Here is an alphabetical list of the ways that?airlines have responded:
AEGEAN AIRLINES
The Greek airline anticipates that the suspension of Middle East flights, as well as a spike in fuel costs, will have "a significant impact" on their first-quarter earnings.
AIRASIA X
Malaysian Airlines executives announced that the company has cut 10% of its flights in the group and imposed a fuel surcharge of around 20%.
AIR CANADA
The Canadian largest airline plans to reduce four of its daily flights to New York to 38 due to rising fuel prices. From June 1, 2026, the four flights to JFK International Airport are being cut.
AIR FRANCE-KLM
The airline group said that it would increase the price of long-haul tickets to offset rising fuel costs. Cabin fares will rise by 58 euros (50 euros) per round-trip.
KLM, the Dutch subsidiary of the group, announced on April 16 that it would cancel 160 flights across Europe in a month due to rising fuel costs.
AIR INDIA
The Indian airline said that it will change its fuel surcharge system from a flat surcharge for domestic flights to one based on distance. The Indian carrier said that surcharges for international routes do not compensate the steep rise in fuel costs.
AIRLINE OPERATORS IN NIGERIA
In a letter to the Nigerian fuel industry association, it was claimed that they were artificially increasing prices.
AIR NEW ZEALAND
On April 7, the airline announced that it would cut flights in May and June, and raise fares. It was one of the earliest to announce a large increase in ticket prices after the conflict erupted. The airline also suspended its earnings forecast for the full year due to volatility in the fuel markets.
AKASA AIR
Akasa Airlines, based in India, announced that it would be introducing fuel surcharges ranging from 199 to 1,300 Indian Rupees ($2 - $14) for domestic and international flights.
ALASKA AIR
The U.S. carrier said that it would raise fees by $5 for the first bag and $10 for the second for flights in North America, as well for Hawaiian Airlines. The third checked bag was raised from $50 to 200 dollars.
AMERICAN AIRLINES
The U.S. carrier announced that it would increase the fees for checked baggage by $10 for each of the first two bags, and $150 for the third bag, on both domestic and short-haul flights. The airline also reduced certain benefits for passengers in economy class.
The company had previously said that it anticipated a $400-million increase in expenses for the first quarter due to rising fuel prices.
ASIANA AIRLINES
Newsis reported that the South Korean airline would cut 22 flights from April to July because of fuel price increases.
CATHAY PACIFIC
Hong Kong Airlines announced that it would cancel about 2% scheduled passenger flights between mid-May and the end of June. Meanwhile, HK Express, its budget airline, was cutting approximately 6% flights.
The carrier had previously stated that it would increase its fuel surcharge across all routes by 34% from April 1, and will review the charges every two weeks.
CEBU AIR
The Philippines-based carrier said that the sharp increase in fuel prices is a major concern. It will continue to review pricing and network strategies and try to minimize the impact.
CHINA EASTERN EXPRESS AIRLINES
Air China said that it would increase fuel surcharges on domestic flights starting April 5. Flights of less than 800km will be charged a surcharge of 60 yuan, and flights above 800km will be charged a surcharge 120 yuan.
DELTA AIR LINES
Delta announced that it would reduce capacity by approximately 3.5 percentage points compared to its original plan, and increase fees for checked baggage in order to offset the rising costs of jet fuel. The increase will be $10 for first and second bags, and $50 on third bags.
The U.S. carrier pulled all planned growth in capacity for the current quarter, and predicted profit that was below Wall Street expectations. Delta's CEO said that the company would not update its full-year forecast due to the uncertainty surrounding the fuel price hike.
EASYJET
EasyJet has warned that it will suffer a larger half-year loss before tax of between 540 and 560 millions pounds ($731 and $758) in March, including an extra 25 million pounds of fuel costs.
Kenton Jarvis, CEO of British Airways, said that European consumers can expect to pay higher prices at the end summer when fuel hedges expire.
FRONTIER AÉRIENS
Fuel prices have risen'significantly' since the airline issued its outlook.
GREATER BAY Airlines
The Hong Kong-based firm said that it will increase fuel surcharges for most routes on April 1, but keep them the same on routes to mainland China and Japan.
The carrier has announced that the surcharge on flights between Hong Kong, Philippines and other destinations will be more than doubled.
HONG KONG Airlines
The airline announced that it would increase fuel surcharges up to 35% starting March 12. The biggest increases would be on flights between Hong Kong, Bangladesh, and Nepal where the charges would go from HK$284 to HK$384 (US$49).
British Airways' owner IAG stated in March that it does not intend to increase ticket price immediately as it has hedged a large amount of fuel for the short to medium term.
INDIGO
India's largest airline announced that it will begin charging fuel fees on both domestic and international flights as of March 14. The charges include 900 rupees per flight to the Middle East, and 2,300 rupees per flight to Europe. Sources say that the company is lobbying for a reduction in fuel taxes by the Indian government.
JETBLUE AERWAYS
Low-cost airline based in the United States has announced that it will increase fees for optional services, such as checked luggage, due to "rising operating expenses". The airline said that baggage prices would rise either by $4 or $9.
Sources with knowledge on the subject have confirmed that KOREAN will be in emergency mode as of April due to rising oil costs. The airline will implement phased responses based on the oil price levels and increase company-wide efficiency to offset surging fuel prices.
LUFTHANSA The group announced that it would ground 27 aircraft servicing its CityLine short-haul subsidiary earlier than expected, citing the high cost of jet fuel and industrial action. Lufthansa also plans to withdraw four Airbus A340 600 long-haul planes at the end the summer, and will reduce its short- and medium-haul fleet by five aircraft during winter 2026/2027.
PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
Fuel surcharges are cited as the reason for raising domestic flight prices by $20, and international fares up to $100.
QANTAS AIRWAYS
Qantas, Australia's largest airline, said that it has delayed a planned A$150m ($106m) buyback. It also increased its projected fuel bill in the second half 2026 from A$2.5bn to A$3.1bn-A$3.3bn.
Scandinavian Airlines announced that it would cancel 1,00 flights in April due to high jet fuel and oil prices. In March, the airline had cancelled "couple hundred" of flights.
SAS, which has already raised flight prices, stated that the surge in fuel costs would be a major blow to the aviation industry, even if they tried to absorb them.
SPRING AIRLINES
Budget Chinese airline announced that it will increase fuel surcharges for domestic flights from April 5. Details to be announced later.
SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST SOUTHWAST AIRLINES
The American carrier announced that it would increase the fees for checked bags by $10 each for the first two bags. This will bring the cost to $45 and $55 respectively for the first bag.
The Portuguese airline claimed that its price increases would partially offset the impact of fuel prices changes on its revenues.
THAI AIRWAYS
The Thailand-based airline said that it would increase fares between 10% and 15% in order to combat rising fuel prices.
TURKISH AIRLINES LUFTHANSA
SunExpress, the joint venture between Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa and Lufthansa announced that it would be imposing a temporary fuel surcharge between Turkey and Europe of 10 euros for each passenger starting May 1. The fuel surcharge will be applied to all bookings made after April 1, for departures after May 1.
Turkish Airlines announced on April 10, that it would not be distributing any dividends from its net profit for 2025, instead choosing to keep the earnings and preserve cash.
T'WAY AIR
As part of measures taken to combat the effects of war, the South Korean low-cost airline said that it would furlough cabin crew in May and/or June without pay.
UNITED AIRLINES
Scott Kirby, CEO of the U.S. carrier, said that the airline will cut unprofitable flights in the next two quarters to prepare for the oil price remaining above $100 by the end 2027.
Andrew Nocella, United's Chief Commercial Officer, said that the company was able to increase fares in response to a rapid rise in oil and jet fuel costs.
In an email to customers, the airline announced that it would also be increasing first and second checked baggage fees by $10. This applies to all travelers in North America, Mexico, Canada, and Latin America.
VIETJET
Due to possible fuel shortages, the Vietnamese budget airline has 'adjusted' flight frequencies on certain routes.
VIETNAM Airline
Vietnam's Aviation Authority announced that the carrier will cancel 23 flights a week on domestic routes starting in April after it requested assistance from the government to remove an environment tax on jet fuel.
VIRGIN ATLANTIC
Corneel Kster, the CEO of the airline, told The Financial Times that despite adding fuel surcharges on fares this year it will struggle to achieve profitability.
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA
Virgin Australia has said that it expects an increase of jet fuel costs of between A$30 and A$40 million in the second half of the fiscal year. It also anticipates a 1% decrease in capacity for the fourth quarter.
The airline had previously stated that it would adjust fares in order to reflect the rising costs.
WESTJET
Canadian Press reported that the airline would add a C$60 fuel surcharge ($43) to certain bookings, and also combine flights due to rising costs.
(source: Reuters)