UK airlines have been given the green light to cancel or consolidate flights this summer in a bid to conserve jet fuel, as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East disrupts supplies. The measures aim to prevent widespread travel chaos during the peak holiday season, with carriers examining their timetables to identify flights that can be cancelled in advance with minimal disruption.
New legislation announced on Sunday will allow airlines to return a limited number of takeoff and landing slots without losing the right to operate them the following season. Normally, cancelling slots risks losing them, leading airlines to run half-empty planes to retain their rights. Under the new rules, flights must be cancelled at least two weeks in advance, and those with low ticket sales may be scrapped to avoid wasting fuel.
The plans were developed during a meeting last Thursday between Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and representatives from Heathrow, Gatwick, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and easyJet. Alexander stated: “There are no immediate supply issues, but we’re preparing now to give families long-term certainty and avoid unnecessary disruption at the departure gate this summer.”
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.”
The crisis stems from the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz since early March, a key route for oil and gas, leading to fears of jet fuel shortages across Europe. The UK imports around 65% of its jet fuel, much of it from the Middle East, and some estimates suggest only a few weeks of supplies remain in Europe.
