UK airlines will be permitted to cancel or consolidate flights this summer to conserve jet fuel amid ongoing disruption in the Middle East, the government has announced. The measures aim to prevent last-minute chaos as Britons travel for holidays.
New legislation will relax slot rules, allowing airlines to return a limited proportion of takeoff and landing slots without losing rights for the next season. This enables carriers to adjust schedules in advance, such as merging multiple flights to the same destination on the same day.
Passengers will be protected by requiring cancellations at least two weeks in advance, giving time to rebook on similar services. Flights with low ticket sales may also be axed to avoid wasting fuel on near-empty planes.
Rob Bishton, chief executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “Relaxing the rules around slots at airports will allow airlines more flexibility and so we expect them to give passengers as much notice as possible of cancellations during this period.” Transport secretary Heidi Alexander added: “This legislation will give airlines the tools to adjust flights in good time if they need to, which helps protect passengers and businesses.”
The plans follow a meeting last Thursday between the transport secretary, Heathrow and Gatwick airports, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and easyJet. The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed since March, triggering an energy crisis. Europe faces jet fuel shortages, with the UK importing about 65% of its supply, much from the Middle East.
