Britons braced for flight cancellations over fuel shortages as ministers reveal new plans to save summer holidays

Ministers are trying to save British families’ summer holidays by allowing airlines to cancel other flights more easily after Donald Trump’s Iran war caused jet fuel costs to soar.

Airlines around the world are canceling flights and adding extra fees after prices roughly doubled in the wake of the conflict, leaving millions of holidaymakers fearful of travel misery.

Earlier this week, the prime minister even suggested that people might have to change their “holiday destination” if the crisis in the Middle East continues and the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.

Now ministers have announced they will relax restrictive “use it or lose it” flight slots, which they say will help prevent last-minute cancellations for long-awaited summer holidays.

The move will allow airlines to cancel and combine flights, such as business flights, many of which operate on less popular routes in the summer months, without incurring penalties, thereby reducing demand for aviation fuel and preserving that fuel for holiday flights.

Transport Minister Heidi Alexander said the government “will do everything we can to protect our country from the impacts of the situation in the Middle East.”

“The government monitors jet fuel supplies on a daily basis and works with airlines, airports and fuel suppliers to prevent any problems,” he said.

“There is no immediate supply issue, but we are now preparing to provide long-term certainty to families and avoid unnecessary disruption at the departure gate this summer,” he said.

He emphasized that passengers have the right to be rerouted or receive a refund if their flight is canceled by the airline.

The move is understood to follow calls from the industry for greater clarity on the government’s emergency plan.

Air India on Saturday announced it would cut nearly 100 flights due to high jet fuel costs, while in the US, low-cost Spirit Airlines announced it would cease operations immediately after 34 years and thousands of passengers scrambled to rebook travel plans.

According to plans in the UK, airlines will be allowed to give back some of their allocated take-off and landing slots without losing the right to operate them in the following season.

It will be valid from most airports in the UK, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester, Luton, London City, Birmingham and Bristol.

The move was welcomed by the trade body, which represents companies including British Airways, Easyjet, Jet2, Ryanair, Tui and Virgin Atlantic.

Airlines UK Chief Executive Tim Alderslade said: “We welcome the government’s contingency planning, including slot reductions, a measure that will allow airlines to adjust schedules responsibly, avoid unnecessary flights and continue to operate efficiently while keeping passengers connected.”

He added: “We plan to take our customers on well-deserved holidays this summer and will always look after them in line with our obligations.”

Julia Lo Bue-Said, managing director of Advantage Travel Partnership, a consortium of more than 700 travel agencies, said the move “comes at exactly the right time as consumers start planning their summer holidays.” He added: “This will strengthen confidence and provide valuable reassurance to holidaymakers and the travel industry as we approach the peak booking season.”

While the government says UK airlines are not currently facing supply issues, it wants to be able to act quickly if the need arises.

Ministers also highlight that Britain imports jet fuel supplies from a number of countries not dependent on the Strait of Hormuz, including the US, which are caught up in the Iran war.

The UK’s independent aviation regulator said it expected passengers whose flights were canceled to “give as much notice as possible”.

UK Civil Aviation Authority chief executive Rob Bishton said passengers in the UK had some of the strongest protection rights in the world.

“Airlines have a duty to care for their passengers when they encounter disruptions and should offer a choice between a refund or alternative travel arrangements, including another airline, if a flight is cancelled.

“The relaxation of rules regarding slots at airports will give airlines greater flexibility and we therefore expect them to provide passengers with as much information as possible about cancellations during this period.”

IndependentTravel expert Simon Calder said: “Airlines serving the UK have been told that if they anticipate having to ground their flights due to a possible jet fuel shortage, they should ask for permission to do so sooner rather than later. The aim: to avoid last-minute cancellations and give passengers greater certainty.”