'Flying will become more expensive for passengers', warns former British Airways boss

Flying will become more expensive because of soaring oil prices, the former head of British Airways has warned. Willie Walsh, the former CE of the airline, also said passengers are set to face problems at UK airports as they try to go away this summer. Britain is currently in the grip of a cost of living crisis, with soaring inflation and petrol pump prices already affecting the budgets of millions of people. A report published on Friday revealed that families are now paying an extra GBP500 a year to fill up their cars with petrol. Experts warned on the same day that energy bills could soar to an average of GBP3,300 per year within months. Walsh, current DG of the IATA, said: “I think that it is right that these cancellations are made early because that will allow airlines and their customers to adapt to the revised schedules. I actually expect people to be able to get away. I think there will be some disruption but I don’t think it will be on the scale we have seen to date. I believe that there are solutions that have been put in place.” He also said: “Flights are getting more expensive because of the high price of oil and it has been clear to everybody that will be reflected in higher ticket prices. “Flying will be more expensive for consumers, without doubt. Oil is the single biggest element of an airlines’ cost base. It is inevitable that ultimately the high oil prices will be passed through to consumers.”<br/>