Travelers in Turbulence On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, expressed his desire to obtain a “unconditional reopening, without toll, of the Strait of Hormuz” to our colleagues at France 24. But how long will it take for the strait to be secured and fuel prices to drop?
In this storm, travelers hesitate, question themselves. Will they have their flight to enjoy the extended weekends of May and the summer holidays? Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (ATB) seeks to reassure.
“The companies will protect their schedule” Beginning in March, Toulouse travelers faced the first flight cancellations, especially to the Middle East. “There were some adjustments on the margins,” comments Bruno Balerdi, commercial director, clients and communication at ATB, on Wednesday, May 13.
And he adds: “We are vigilant, but not worried. The companies will protect their schedule”. “If the situation in the Middle East can change “overnight,” this summer looks good,” he assures.
According to Toulouse Airport, flights in the schedule are protected from cancellations. (Marie Lamarque / Actu Toulouse) No flight cancellations for Volotea Among the companies that have made their mark at ATB is Volotea, the low-cost airline born in Spain, which recently celebrated the tenth anniversary of its Toulouse base. In Toulouse, it is the 4th airline in terms of passengers and the 2nd in terms of destinations.
Interrogated, its France director, Gilles Gosselin, also assured this Wednesday: “There is no question of canceling more flights. Our clients will travel normally.” The conflict results in “a shift to medium-haul routes, which we benefit from,” he continues.
With 23 destinations from the Pink City, Volotea has specialized in serving national and regional capitals (Madrid, Caen, Lille, Nantes, Palermo, or Luxembourg). Starting in autumn, it will open three new routes: to Pisa, and to the islands of Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria.
“But a new pricing” In this crisis context, the company adopted, from March 16, a “special pricing” that did not fail to react. A week before departure, passengers who have reserved their ticket may be required to pay a supplement (up to 14 euros). A measure aimed at better supporting fluctuations in the price of kerosene.
If for Gilles Gosselin, it is about guaranteeing “an affordable and transparent rate” for customers “who have the possibility of changing or canceling without fees,” this new pricing was criticized by European authorities who deemed the system illegal. The French director affirms that this pricing had been validated by different legal firms. “The authorities had a different opinion,” he observes, adding that Volotea reserves the right to modify it.
“Added to the war, the threat of the hantavirus” Added to the crisis in the Middle East is the threat of the spread of the hantavirus, this virus detected on a cruise ship in early May and which caused the death of three people. Five French people were repatriated this Sunday and one of them tested positive for the virus. In this context, the Government has strengthened monitoring, quarantine, and isolation measures.
If the situation can revive memories of the Covid crisis and its heavy consequences for Toulouse airport, it wants to be cautious. “We are following the evolution,” responds Bruno Balerdi. (ATB)
