Air ambulance asks for help as Iran war increases fuel costs

The Wales Air Ambulance Service is asking the public for help after warning fuel price rises due to the Iran war could cost the service an extra £45,000 a month.

Charlotte Philips, director of aviation operations, said the price of aviation fuel had risen by about 75% since the start of the war.

The life-saving charity has launched a public appeal with the aim of raising £50,000.

The UK government said tackling the affordability crisis was its number one priority.

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Philips said the service had seen aviation fuel rise over the past six weeks.

"We have a number of different suppliers but on average we're seeing around about 75% increase in aviation fuel right now," she said.

In an average summer month, Philips said the service spent £60,000 per month on aviation fuel.

If prices remained high, she said the service was looking at an additional £45,000 per month on fuel alone.

The charity needs to raise £13m every year year to keep the operation running.

She added: "It's a big decision to ask for additional donations when the people of Wales are very generous to our service. But what we are looking at is an exceptional unforecasted cost. So it was something nobody could have foreseen coming."

A UK government spokesman said it was determined to keep costs down and had extended the 5p fuel duty cut, as well as urging for de-escalation in the war.

A Welsh Labour spokesperson said it would review non-emergency hospital transport and require all health boards to produce a transport plan to improve transport routes to and from hospital sites.

A Welsh Conservative spokesperson said it would declare a health emergency to prioritise frontline services and work closely with life-saving charities to ensure they have stability.

A spokesperson for Reform Wales said: "It is imperative that the next Welsh government ensures that rural and remote locations receive emergency services within the life-saving target times."

Plaid Cymru urged the UK government to "adequately support vital services", amid price increases due to the war, while "advocating for a diplomatic end to hostilities and the full reopening of international shipping passages".

The BBC has contacted the Green Party and the Welsh Liberal Democrats for comment.