'Airlines may ground planes'

Airlines are considering grounding their planes in response to rising fuel costs in the uncertain economic climate.

James Fremantle, industry affairs manager for consumer group the Air Transport Users Council, added that higher fuel prices could mean airlines cut fares in an attempt to fill planes with passengers, or increase travel prices to make back their costs.

“There definitely is a possibility [of cutting routes] with the tough times out there, what with the fuel costs going up. There is a possibility the airlines will cut schedules, that’s just the nature of the business,” he continued.

Mr Fremantle went on to say that such a move would be disappointing for customers as they have benefited from an increased choice of routes in recent years.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association said: “We’d rather not see it happen in this way, but a reduction in the number of flights will be no bad thing for the environment. It’s all very well talking about customers being disappointed, but a situation where you can fly to European cities for the same cost as a pint of beer can’t possibly be sustainable.”

The news follows an announcement by British Airways that it is planning to ground some of its aircraft from October to avoid flying so many planes below their passenger capacities as fuel prices continue to increase.

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