SAS to cancel 1,000 flights as fuel crisis pushes up costs across Europe

SAS will cancel at least 1,000 flights in April as surging fuel prices force the airline to scale back its schedule. For passengers, the fallout could be broader than cancellations alone, with other airlines also expected to raise fares or introduce fuel surcharges.

Fuel price doubled

The Scandinavian airline says the price of jet fuel has doubled in just ten days. As a result, the airline is already cancelling hundreds of flights in March, with many more expected after Easter, especially on shorter routes within Scandinavia.

According to SAS, the increase is linked to the unrest in the Middle East and its impact on the global oil and fuel market.

Entitled to refund and compensation

For passengers, the key issue is what their rights are if their flight is cancelled. In that case, they are entitled to a refund of their ticket or to be rebooked on another flight.

SAS is entitled to cancel flights, but that does not automatically mean passengers lose their right to compensation. Whether compensation is owed depends largely on when the cancellation was communicated.

If passengers were informed more than 14 days before departure, compensation usually does not apply. If the cancellation was announced within that 14-day window, passengers may still be entitled to compensation of up to €600, depending on the flight distance.

The impact is not limited to SAS. Other airlines are already raising fares or introducing fuel surcharges to offset rising costs. At the same time, competitor Norwegian is trying to benefit from the disruption by adding extra flights to accommodate affected travellers.