UK airlines will be able to cancel or consolidate flights this summer to conserve jet fuel as the war in the Middle East continues to disrupt supplies. The measures aim to avoid major disruption as Britons jet off on their summer holidays.
New legislation announced on Sunday will allow airlines to give back a limited proportion of their allocated takeoff and landing slots without losing the right to operate them the following season. This change is intended to prevent last-minute cancellations and allow airlines to adjust schedules in advance.
If flights have not sold a significant proportion of tickets, they may also be cancelled to avoid wasting fuel on near-empty planes. Under the plans, cancellations must be made at least two weeks in advance, and passengers will be moved onto similar services.
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 plans were hatched at a meeting last Thursday between Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and representatives from Heathrow, Gatwick, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and easyJet. The Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for oil and gas, has been effectively closed since early March, causing jet fuel shortages in Europe, where the UK imports about 65% of its supply.
Alexander said: “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. This legislation will give airlines the tools to adjust flights in good time if they need to, which helps protect passengers and businesses.”
