France reassures on kerosene reserves as Middle East conflict drives up airline costs
French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said on May 5 that France has not tapped its strategic kerosene reserves and that supply is not the main issue, as the Middle East conflict pushes fuel costs to 40-45% of airline operating expenses. He will meet airlines on May 6 to discuss potential summer flight cancellations and passenger rights. Tabarot also noted that Transavia has canceled about 2% of flights in May and June, and Volotea 1%.
French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said on May 5 that France has not tapped its strategic kerosene reserves and that supply is not the main issue, as the Middle East conflict pushes fuel costs to 40-45% of airline operating expenses. He will meet airlines on May 6 to discuss potential summer flight cancellations and passenger rights. Tabarot also noted that Transavia has canceled about 2% of flights in May and June, and Volotea 1%.
Tabarot, speaking on the program "Les 4 Vérités" on May 5, 2026, said: "On n'a pas touché à nos stocks stratégiques pour l'instant" (We have not touched our strategic stocks for now). He added that the issue is not supply but price, with kerosene rising from about 25% of airline operating costs to 40-45%. "We are in a heavy crisis for air transport that is not yet at the level of Covid, but is becoming worrying," Tabarot said.
Tabarot will meet with airlines on May 6, 2026, alongside Minister Roland Lescure, to review flight plans for the summer. He said passenger rights include advance notice of cancellations, rebooking, or refunds. "The right of passengers means, in case of cancellation, warning sufficiently early, it means placing passengers on a flight if they wish, or of course, reimbursements," Tabarot said.
Regarding Volotea's practice of adding post-purchase surcharges, Tabarot said the government is examining whether the practice is legal at the EU level. "The company says it now puts, at the time of ticket sale, a paragraph saying it can allow itself to do it. Today it must be verified, but not at the national level, it is at the European level that it is handled," he said. Neither Air France nor Transavia currently apply such surcharges, Tabarot noted.
Tabarot said 59 French-interest vessels and 20-30 French sailors are in the Gulf, monitored daily. "These are sailors who wished to stay, who are volunteers. But of course this situation worries us and we are at their side daily," he said.
On broader economic impacts, Tabarot said the government has spent nearly double the 180 million euro surplus in targeted aid for truckers, farmers, fishermen, and construction. Discussions with taxi drivers on aid measures are scheduled for May 11, 2026. "We are discussing with taxis, because they have some proposals. We have others. We are trying to agree so that the decisions taken are the most consensual, and are effective for them," Tabarot said.