EasyJet has reported that its summer holiday bookings are trailing last year's figures, as the ongoing Middle East conflict gives potential vacationers second thoughts about committing to a beach holiday while the region is busy not being a beach. The airline blamed an unexpected £25m increase in March jet fuel costs on the US-Israel war with Iran, adding that while fuel supplies remain uninterrupted for now, consumer confidence apparently needs a bit more coaxing.

Despite warnings from Ryanair's Michael O'Leary that the UK is Europe's most vulnerable nation to potential jet fuel shortages if the Strait of Hormuz stays closed, EasyJet insists customers should "book with confidence" - a phrase that historically pairs well with "trust us, we've got this." CEO Kenton Jarvis noted that fuel supplies are diversifying, with increased production in the Americas and Norway, presumably hoping customers don't ask too many questions about how that helps if the strait is blocked.

The airline reported a pre-tax loss of £552m for the six months ending March 31, up from £394m a year earlier, though it typically recoups losses during the peak summer period. To offset higher fuel costs, EasyJet has raised its minimum ticket fare and is reviewing all discretionary spending - which we assume does not include the CEO's coffee budget.

EasyJet has hedged 72% of its fuel needs through September but has temporarily paused short-term hedging due to "elevated near-term fuel prices," a phrase that roughly translates to "we'll just hope for the best." The carrier reduced its summer seat capacity by 0.3% in March but now plans to operate its full schedule, suggesting that either the crisis is manageable or they've decided to ignore it with the same optimism as a sunbather ignoring a thundercloud.

Meanwhile, holiday package demand remains strong, with customer numbers up 22% year-over-year, proving that some people will literally book a package deal to anywhere if the price is right. Jarvis also urged European airports to use flexibility granted by the European Commission to reduce border queues, calling long delays "really inexcusable" - a sentiment likely shared by every traveler who has ever stood in one.