Ministers are considering relaxing take-off and landing rules for flights to allow airlines to move passengers onto different flights earlier in the event of disruption caused by the conflict in the Middle East, in a bid to protect summer holidays.
New Measures to Prevent Last-Minute Cancellations
The proposed measures would enable airlines to hand back a limited number of their allocated take-off and landing slots without losing the right to operate them in the following season. This flexibility helps carriers build realistic schedules and avoid last-minute cancellations, rather than flying empty "ghost flights" or cancelling at short notice, which puts passengers' plans at risk.
The plans are designed to give families greater confidence when travelling this summer by helping airlines to plan realistically and lock in schedules earlier. This aims to reduce delays at the airport, prevent empty flights, and minimise wasted fuel.
Government and Industry Collaboration
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander discussed the plans at a roundtable with key industry figures on Thursday this week, including representatives from Heathrow, Gatwick, British Airways, Virgin, and easyJet. She stated: "Since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the Government has been monitoring jet fuel supplies daily and working with airlines, airports and fuel suppliers to stay ahead of any problems. 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."
She added: "This legislation will give airlines the tools to adjust flights in good time if they need to, which helps protect passengers and businesses. We will do everything we can to insulate our country from the impact of the situation in the Middle East."
Airlines' Response and Commitments
While UK airlines insist they are not currently facing supply issues, the Government will also work with the industry to act quickly if required. Europe's biggest budget airlines have stated they remain confident in their ability to keep flights running as normal throughout the peak holiday season. Jet2, easyJet, and TUI have all committed to not imposing any additional charges on passengers for fuel price increases.
