The warnings sound serious: due to the tense situation in the Middle East, in particular the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the resulting disruption to aviation fuel supply chains, Europe's aviation industry is preparing for a difficult summer. Airlines are warning of bottlenecks, the EU is working on contingency plans and the Lufthansa Group has already announced that it will withdraw around 20,000 short-haul flights from its programme by October.
For charter crews, this means that summer holidays are not at risk across the board as things stand. However, individual cancellations, rebookings, merged connections and rising ticket prices are realistic. It will be particularly problematic if the crew does not want to arrive until the day the yacht is handed over.
How safe are return flights to the Mediterranean?
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) warns that there could be flight cancellations in Europe from the end of May if the supply situation remains tense. For the most important charter destinations on the Mediterranean, however, there is currently no indication that return journeys to Germany are generally at risk. However, the situation varies from country to country.
- Spain appears comparatively robust, better positioned than many other European countries due to its own refinery capacities and supply sources from America and North Africa. Spanish refineries have increased their production and paraffin stocks were at a high level, according to the Ministry of Energy.
- France is under pressure not so much because of local shortages, but because of high fuel prices. The government is preparing aid for airlines, including payment deferrals and more flexibility with fuel loads.
- Italy remains the most important warning case. There were temporary restrictions on paraffin availability at Milan-Linate, Venice, Treviso and Bologna airports in April.
- Croatia is currently reporting no fuel problems at the major airports. According to local reports, the supplier INA stated that the seven major passenger airports are being supplied regularly and in sufficient quantities.
- The Turkey also considers itself to be in a stable position. The Turkish transport minister explained that the country is a net exporter of jet fuel and currently has no supply problems. However, flight cancellations there can still have other reasons, such as closed airspace in the region.
- Albania reports normal flight operations for Tirana. The airport stated that Air BP had secured sufficient reserves and that departures were taking place as planned.
- Greece is one of the most important charter destinations in the eastern Mediterranean, primarily due to its bases in Athens, Lavrion, Lefkas, Corfu, Kos, Rhodes and the Cyclades. No local paraffin bottlenecks have been reported to date. Nevertheless, Greece remains susceptible to flight schedule changes due to its many island and regional airports if airlines bundle connections or cancel routes with lower bookings.
To summarise: As things stand today, travelling to the Mediterranean is basically possible. The risk lies more in individual cancelled or postponed flights. However, this could jeopardise the acquisition of the charter yacht.
What happens if the flight is cancelled?
For flights from the EU, within the EU and for many return flights to the EU, EU passenger rights apply. If a flight is cancelled, the airline must always give passengers a choice: Reimbursement of the ticket price, replacement transport at the earliest possible date or rebooking to a later suitable date.
In addition, a compensation payment of between 250 and 600 euros may be considered if the airline informs the passenger less than 14 days before departure and does not offer a reasonable alternative. Whether a paraffin shortage is considered an extraordinary circumstance is likely to depend on the individual case. Political instability and security risks can constitute extraordinary circumstances, whereas purely operational or economic decisions do not automatically do so.
Important for return flights from Turkey or Albania: EU passenger rights only apply to flights from a non-EU country to the EU if the operating airline is based in the EU. For a return flight from Spain, France, Italy, Greece or Croatia to Germany, the protection is much clearer because the departure is in the EU.
Who pays for a lost charter week?
In the case of a genuine package tour, where flights and yacht charter have been booked together with one tour operator, the tour operator is liable for the proper execution of the services included in the package. If the charter week cannot take place or can only take place in part due to a cancelled outbound flight, the tour operator must pay the total costs or a proportionate compensation.
The biggest risk for yacht holidaymakers, however, is that flights and yacht charters are often booked separately. In this case, there are usually two separate contracts: one with the airline and one with the charter company or charter agency. If the flight is cancelled, the charter company has usually still provided its service. The boat is moored at the jetty, the week is running, even if the crew does not arrive on time.
The charter contract is therefore crucial for charter crews. Cancellation deadlines, goodwill rules, force majeure, replacement crew and insurance should be checked before the trip. The YACHT article provides a good introduction "Charter contract: small print with fatal consequences"which shows how quickly general terms and conditions, deposits and liability issues can become a problem.
Which insurance helps?
Normal travel cancellation insurance does not automatically pay out just because a flight has been cancelled. The decisive factor is what is stated in the specific contract as the insured reason for cancellation or curtailment. For charter trips, crews should therefore specifically check whether not only illness, accident or death are covered, but also arrival, departure, hotel costs and charter costs.
Pantaenius, for example, has organised its charter insurance offer on a modular basis. Cancellation and interruption insurance, deposit insurance, skipper liability insurance, international health insurance and accident insurance can be taken out individually or in combination. Arrival and departure costs as well as directly neighbouring hotel stays can also be insured. You can read more about this in the YACHT article "Pantaenius revises its charter insurance offer". In principle, such insurance policies are also possible with other providers.
The YACHT special also provides a broader overview of sensible policies for charter crews "Properly insured for your boating holiday". Among other things, it deals with skipper liability, hull insurance, bail and crew protection.
What crews should do now
Anyone flying to the charter base in the next few weeks should above all create a buffer. Travelling on the day of handover is particularly risky this summer. It is better to arrive the day before, take a flight that is as direct as possible, avoid tight transfers and book a hotel night near the marina that can be cancelled.
Before departure, crews should check the flight status, airline notifications and the charter contract. In the event of a cancellation, they should not rush to book an expensive replacement flight themselves, but should first document what the airline is offering. Screenshots, emails, times, hotline attempts and receipts can become important later.
The following applies to the return journey: If you have to return to work on Monday, you should not choose the last possible return flight too close together. Individual flight cancellations can be enough to ruin the start of the working week or connecting trips.
Checklist: What charterers should pay attention to now
- Do not arrive on the day of handover
If you are taking over the yacht on Saturday, you should fly on Friday if possible. A buffer day can decide whether a cancelled or postponed flight is just annoying or ruins the start of the trip. - Prefer direct flights
Every change increases the risk. If a feeder is cancelled or the connection is delayed, the crew will soon not be at the charter base in time. - Critically examine small regional airports
Connections to smaller airports can be cancelled, merged or postponed more easily than main routes that are in high demand. This is particularly true for island destinations and charter destinations with few daily flights. - Check flight status regularly
Don't wait until the day of departure to check. Airlines often inform you in advance about changed times or cancelled connections. If you react early, you have a better chance of finding sensible alternatives. - Read charter contract
Cancellation, late arrival, force majeure and rebooking clauses are important. In many contracts, the charter continues even if the crew does not arrive on time due to a flight cancellation. - Clarify insurance cover
Normal travel cancellation insurance is not always sufficient. The decisive factor is whether charter costs, arrival and departure, hotel accommodation and trip cancellation are expressly included. - Document airline offers
Save screenshots, emails, app messages and hotline attempts in the event of a flight cancellation. Anyone who later claims reimbursement, replacement transport or compensation needs proper documentation. - Do not rush to book a replacement flight yourself
Firstly, the airline should offer a rebooking or alternative transport. If you buy an expensive replacement flight on your own, you risk disputes over reimbursement. - Don't plan your return journey on the edge
If you have to return to work on a Monday, you should not choose the latest Sunday flight. Rebookings, waiting times or additional hotel nights can also occur on the return journey. - Inform crew and charter company early
If a delay is imminent, the skipper, crew, agency and base should be informed immediately. Sometimes handover times, check-in or the first night in the harbour can still be solved pragmatically.
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
