Major airlines have cancelled over 13,000 flights worldwide in May, including more than 100 from London Heathrow, as the ongoing US-Iran conflict drives jet fuel prices to new heights. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical trade route through which 20% of global oil passes, has exacerbated the situation, threatening summer travel plans for Britons.
Heathrow Hit by 111 Cancellations
London Heathrow Airport has seen 111 flights removed from its May schedule amid fears that long-term jet fuel supply disruptions could lead to further cancellations this summer. UK airlines were informed over the weekend that they may have greater flexibility to consolidate flights on popular routes if necessary.
Global Impact
According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, approximately 13,000 fewer flights will operate globally in May due to recent cancellations. About two million airline seats have been cut from schedules as carriers redraw operations in response to soaring jet fuel prices. Some of these reductions involve using smaller aircraft, while others are outright cancellations.
The most significant drops in flight numbers are at Istanbul and Munich airports, with Turkish Airlines and Germany's Lufthansa making substantial cuts. Lufthansa has eliminated 20,000 short-haul flights operated by its CityLine subsidiary.
UK Carriers' Response
Most short-haul carriers operating in the UK are well-hedged on jet fuel, meaning they do not anticipate immediate cost increases. Budget airlines EasyJet and Wizz Air have committed to operating their full summer schedules despite pressure on the unhedged portion of their fuel bills.
The industry reports no current shortages, given the usual six-week visibility of supply. However, international agencies warn that Europe could face jet fuel shortages if the Middle East conflict continues to disrupt supplies.
Government Measures
The UK government has stated that unusual measures could be taken in advance to avoid late disruption for holidaymakers over the summer. This includes consolidating schedules on routes with multiple daily flights to the same destination. Ministers have indicated that if carriers have not sold a significant proportion of tickets, flights may also be cancelled to prevent wasting fuel on near-empty planes.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said there were no immediate supply issues, but the government is preparing now to give families long-term certainty and avoid unnecessary disruption at the departure gate this summer.
