Gatwick Airport has warned that it is facing a fuel shortage amid the busy summer holiday season. The UK's second-largest airport issued a notice to pilots, telling them to fill up at other airports where possible, The Sun reports.
The notice stated: "Gatwick has a shortage of fuel for the next two days. Please uplift max possible fuel at outstations." Another "emergency" alert added that airline bosses should be prepared for "potential disruption to the Gatwick fuel supply".
Long-haul flights worst affected
Long-haul flights are understood to be the worst affected, as pilots will have to stock as much fuel as possible at foreign destinations without exceeding weight limits.
A source told The Sun: "Most flights beyond 2.5 hours will still need extra fuel in Gatwick. The fuel shortage warning came with many long-haul flights already en route to the UK, meaning crews were unable to bring extra fuel with them."
"Pilots will be trying to supplement as much fuel as they can down-route to protect the long-haul flights and stretch out supply. The longer the fuel shortage lasts, the tighter it will get. It means there is a good chance of disruption, particularly Monday onwards."
Holidaymakers reconsider plans
With widespread uncertainty about air travel, some holidaymakers have been reluctant to book their next trip, leading to an uptick in last-minute reservations.
Research from IPSOS revealed that 5% of UK adults have scrapped a holiday over fears they won't be able to return home amid jet fuel shortages, while a further 10% are contemplating doing so. It also found that a quarter of Brits are still looking overseas for their next break but are exploring alternative modes of travel rather than flying.
No current evidence of shortage
A travel expert has reassured that there is no current evidence of a jet fuel shortage in the UK.
Speaking at ABTA's Travel Matters conference, Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, said: "All of the information from the government, when we speak to the designated Department for Transport (DFT), is that we're not seeing a shortage. "Visibility certainly over the next one or two [months] is very, very good, and that is not abnormal in terms of how airlines have visibility of future supply."
