Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Faces Soaring Fuel Costs During Aviation Fuel Crisis

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Warns Fuel Crisis Could Put Pressure on Lifesaving Service

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance has warned that soaring aviation fuel prices are placing major financial pressure on its lifesaving emergency service, as the wider UK air ambulance sector continues to feel the impact of the ongoing global fuel crisis.

The charity says the cost of jet fuel has almost doubled in recent months, with prices rising from around 52p per litre in October to approximately £1.03 per litre this spring. Monthly fuel bills have reportedly climbed from about £12,000 to £25,000.

EHAAT chief executive Mark Jarman-Howe described the increase as a “significant cost pressure” on the service, although he stressed there is currently no immediate threat to frontline emergency response operations.

The charity attends around 2,500 incidents every year across Essex, Hertfordshire and surrounding areas, operating from bases at North Weald and Earls Colne. Helicopters can burn around 375 litres of aviation fuel per flying hour, meaning even relatively short missions carry substantial operating costs.

According to recent reports, air ambulance charities across the UK have been heavily affected by the sharp rise in aviation fuel costs linked to instability in the Middle East and disruption to global supply routes. Several organisations have warned that both affordability and fuel availability are becoming growing concerns.

EHAAT says it remains operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will rely on financial reserves if needed in the short to medium term. However, Mark Jarman-Howe cautioned that if elevated fuel prices continue for many months, longer-term decisions may eventually need to be considered.

The charity has also joined wider calls from UK air ambulance providers urging the Government to ensure emergency air services are prioritised if fuel shortages worsen. Other air ambulance organisations around the country have reported increases ranging from 60% to more than 100% in recent months.

Despite the financial pressures, EHAAT says its crews continue to respond to emergencies across the region, providing advanced pre-hospital critical care to seriously ill and injured patients when every second counts.