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Yorkshire Air Ambulance appeal as fuel costs soar

Monday, 27 April 2026 12:50

Yorkshire Air Ambulance is having to pay an extra £7,000 per month on fuel.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) has launched an appeal for funding after seeing its fuel costs soar by 65%.

The charity said it was paying 66p per litre for aviation fuel in February - but that figure rose to £1.09 per litre in March.

Kathryn Marsden, the YAA's chief executive, told BBC News:

"It went straight up. So last month, our fuel cost us £7,000 more than the month before.

"We don't pay VAT on aviation fuel for emergency services.

"So usually we would end up with spending approximately £276,000 a year on aviation fuel.

"It might go up, but if it stays at that level, we'd be going up to nearly half a million in fuel costs for the year.”

The rise is a result of volatile energy markets since the US and Israel attacked Iran in February.

If you would like to donate to YAA, please visit yaa.org.uk/donate

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