Experts have issued stark warnings that the ongoing jet fuel shortage, exacerbated by the conflict in the Middle East, could spell disaster for countless summer holiday plans. Airlines have already slashed two million seats from May's schedules in the past two weeks alone, as the Iran war continues to disrupt global oil supplies.
Fuel Crisis and Flight Cuts
The outbreak of conflict in the Middle East in February led to the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. This has blocked 20 per cent of the world's oil, triggering a worldwide fuel shortage that is predicted to fall to 'critically low levels'. Several major carriers, including Turkish Airlines, Air China, and Lufthansa, have axed thousands of flights. However, many airlines appear to be operating as normal, and some have paradoxically slashed prices on holiday packages and flights.
EasyJet, Wizz Air, and British Airways are offering competitive deals and flash sales for the upcoming summer season, with some fares reduced to as low as £13. Here is a breakdown of the cheapest package holidays and flights currently available.
Wizz Air
Wizz Air is offering significant summer savings, featuring a 15 per cent discount on already low-priced flights to a range of European hotspots. Through the promotion, which runs until August, travellers can snap up fares for as little as £16.50 when travelling from London Luton. Holidaymakers can jet off to Lyon for just £16.57 in June, while flights to Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid, and Turin are priced at just over £20 in May and June. Routes from London Luton to Seville cost slightly more, with basic fares starting at £24.22 in June, while one-way flights to Chania in Crete and Mykonos start at £40.37 in May. Away from the promotion, holidaymakers can travel from London Stansted to Faro for just £23 in June, while Antalya flights during the same month cost £37.
Ryanair
Ryanair, another budget carrier renowned for its ultra-low fares, is currently running a 'Summer Savers' promotion for travel between May and August, with hundreds of flights to key European destinations slashed to as little as £15. The majority of these routes operate from London Luton. Basic fares from the UK airport to Barcelona and Bologna, Italy, are each priced at £14.99 in May and June, while one-way journeys to Alicante, Spain, and Italian destinations Naples, Palma, and Venice start at £16.99 in May and June. Flights from London Luton to Malaga, Spain, can be snapped up for just £19.99 in May, and journeys to Spanish cities Murcia and Seville in June sit at around £25. Beyond the airline's Summer Savers deals, standard basic flights from London Stansted to Marrakech, Morocco; Tirana, Albania; and Paphos, Greece, throughout the summer are being offered for less than £40.
EasyJet
EasyJet appears to remain mostly unaffected by the jet fuel crisis, as it is currently offering low-cost city breaks, affordable beach holidays, and reduced prices for destinations further afield throughout May. From London Gatwick, travellers can head to Strasbourg, France, from £20.99; Milan, Italy, from £25.49; and Palma de Majorca, Spain, from £25.99. Meanwhile, one-way flights from the UK airport to Paris, as well as Rimini and Pula in Italy, are available from £30.49, or to Amsterdam and Lanzarote, Spain, from £30.99. EasyJet is also offering fares from London Luton to Bordeaux, France, from £18.99; Ibiza from £20.99; and Palma de Majorca from £29.49. London Southend journeys to Pisa, Italy, cost as little as £18.49, or to Marrakech from £25.99, Malta from £27.99, and Gran Canaria from £29.99. There are also great offers to be had on flights from airports outside London. Those travelling from Bristol can head to Faro, Portugal, from £22.99, while Birmingham flyers can travel to Fuerteventura, Spain, from £19.99. Milan flights are also cheap from Liverpool, starting at just £20.99. Those looking to book package holidays this summer will also find a plethora of last-minute offers and summer holiday deals on EasyJet's website, including beach breaks and resort stays for less than £250 per person. Customers are treated to extra savings of up to £50 when they book these holidays with discount codes like CITIES20 and BEACH50.
British Airways
Though not traditionally considered a low-cost carrier, British Airways is still running a strong selection of summer deals and promotions. The long-haul carrier is advertising plenty of last-minute deals for one-way European flights and US returns over the following months, as well as cut-price beach holiday packages to popular hotspots from just £339. Throughout May, travellers can fly from London airports to Bordeaux, Brussels, Dublin, Fuerteventura, Inverness, and Luxembourg for less than £65, while one-way journeys to Menorca, Nice, Palma, and Salzburg cost less than £80. Meanwhile, US returns from London to Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, and Orlando in August are being offered for less than £580.
Jet2
With Jet2, holidaymakers can secure cheap one-way flights this summer to hotspots across Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece for less than £30. The airline is currently running a promotion valid throughout May and June 2026, of which 49,000 seats are being offered for £49 or less, while over 20,000 last-minute seats are available at £39 or less. A 10 per cent discount is also being applied to return flights from Manchester, London Gatwick, and London Stansted. In June, travellers can fly one-way from London Gatwick to Faro, Alicante, Lanzarote, Majorca, Paphos, Reus, Rhodes, and Verona for between £28 and £29. From Manchester, flyers can hop on a one-way flight to Agadir, Corfu, La Palma, Marrakech, and Malaga for less than £45 in June. At Jet2holidays, families can save as much as £500 on their summer breaks until October 2026 with its 'Free Child' promotion, with over 20,000 'Free Child' places snapped up just last week. For a limited time, customers are also treated to an extra £100 off summer holidays with a special promotional code.
TUI
Over 64,000 TUI flights are set to depart UK airports in June 2026, many of which boast return fares from just £70. From Birmingham, holidaymakers can book a return flight to Marrakech for £69, while round-trips from London Gatwick to Costa Brava and Ibiza are priced at £70. Fares are just as low in August, with return routes from Cardiff to Reus costing £70, from Bournemouth to Ibiza for £70, and London Gatwick to Menorca for £70. Hundreds of package holidays over the summer months are also being slashed by more than 50 per cent, with some breaks costing less than £200.
