British holidaymakers have been warned to book their summer getaways ‘as soon as possible’ due to the ongoing Iran war.

It comes as the chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz and the destruction of oil and gas plants in the Middle East looks set to keep the cost of fuel rising over the coming weeks.

Jet fuel prices in particular are more vulnerable in Europe, where they reached a record high this week to almost double what they were before the conflict started.

Speaking at an airline industry summit in Brussels, EasyJet boss Kenton Jarvis said the price hike following the US-Iran military action has gone ‘further north’ than when Russia invaded Ukraine.

Asked if the cost of flights could be higher this summer, he said: ‘The answer is yes.’

He added: ‘The longer prices are elevated, the more you’re going to have to start covering your position with more expensive fuel. So my expectation is that prices go up.

‘It’s a low-margin competitive industry. We make about £7 a seat. If fuel goes up £10, then you have to do something about that…

‘I think the message would be to try and book as early as possible.’

Ryanair founder Michael O’Leary also warned of potential ‘issues’ towards the end of summer if the war in the Middle East continues.

He said: ‘I think it depends on how long it goes on for. If it goes on for the next month or two, which is the general expectation, then we don’t expect any disruptions.

‘But none of us know. There’s an inevitability that if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, that oil prices will remain elevated and it is inevitable that that will flow through to higher fares.’

SAS (Scandanavia’s biggest carrier) announced this week that it is scrapping some flights due to the increasing fuel prices. It is the first major carrier in Europe to do so.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.