French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot has urged airlines to uphold passenger rights amidst a deepening jet fuel crisis, emphasizing the need for refunds or rebooking and timely communication for flight cancellations. Tabarot is scheduled to meet with airline representatives to address the escalating fuel prices, influenced by the Middle East crisis and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has significantly impacted aviation fuel markets. While acknowledging the airlines' financial difficulties, particularly their reliance on summer revenue, Tabarot criticized practices like Spanish airline Volotea's €14 surcharge on existing tickets and the removal of over 5.4 million seats and 18,000 flights in April alone. Despite warnings from the International Energy Agency about potential fuel shortages, Tabarot sought to reassure the public about France's current fuel visibility for several weeks to months, contrasting with Ryanair's limited supply until the end of May.