Ascend Airways has cancelled all its flights effective immediately, blaming the ongoing Middle East war and increase in jet fuel prices for the situation. The airline has filed for administration and surrendered its UK air operator's certificate.
Other airlines hiked their prices on popular routes amid the chaos, prompting the government to cap the price surge to "ensure that citizens who urgently need to travel including senior citizens, students, and patients are not subjected to financial hardship." Videos surfaced of angry crowds assaulting ground staff, breaking counters, while hurling abuse, and objects, at exhausted airline workers. Social media plaforms have been flooded with photos of luggage piling up at airports.