Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleCorina PonsTuesday 21 April 2026 20:33 BSTWill Middle East conflict push flight prices even higher? Travel expert Simon Calder explainsSpanish airlines are increasing seat capacity by 6% for the April-October peak travel season, reaching almost 260 million seats, despite concerns over a potential fuel supply crunch linked to the Iran war.The industry is confident in strong tourist interest in Spain, with route expansions concentrated in coastal regions like Alicante (14% increase) and Andalusia (8% increase), alongside Madrid and Barcelona airports (8% rise).Javier Gandara, president of Spanish airlines association ALA, noted that the increase reflects confidence and potentially traffic diverted from conflict zones, though he acknowledged the uncertain situation.Spanish airlines are relatively insulated from fuel supply disruptions, with over 80% of jet fuel from domestic refineries and only 11% of crude oil from the Middle East.While international airlines serving Spain have secured most summer fuel needs through hedging, low-cost carrier Volotea has introduced a temporary pricing policy linking ticket prices to fuel costs, prompting an investigation call from consumer group Facua.In fullSome airlines are expanding capacity for peak travel season despite jet fuel concernsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in