UK Government Lets Airlines Change Schedules Early Over Jet Fuel Shortages Linked to Middle East Conflict

Britain’s government has set out new plans to protect summer holidays from disruption by allowing airlines to change flight schedules in advance if they face jet fuel shortages linked to the Middle East conflict.

“Air transport: the kerosene shortage threatens flights in Europe as summer approaches”

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In a statement dated 3 May 2026, the government said the contingency preparations are designed to “help cut the likelihood of last-minute flight cancellations this summer” and to enable airlines to “plan realistically and lock in schedules earlier.”

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The proposals would allow airlines to consolidate schedules on routes where there are “multiple flights to the same destination on the same day,” and to move passengers onto similar services much earlier rather than at the airport.

The government also said the measures would “prevent running flights which have not sold a significant proportion of tickets” and “reduce wasted fuel from flying near-empty planes.”

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “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.”

She added: “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.”

The government’s plans are tied to the disruption of jet fuel supplies after the Strait of Hormuz was closed “in effect since the beginning of March,” according to The Guardian.

The BBC reported that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has blocked supplies from reaching Britain, while the GB News article said the closure has blocked “those supplies from reaching Britain.”

BBC

The Guardian described the Strait of Hormuz as “a key artery for oil and gas” and said it has been closed in effect since the beginning of March, “causing an energy crisis in many countries and leading European states to fear jet fuel shortages.”

Multiple outlets tied the UK’s vulnerability to import dependence, with the BBC stating the UK imports about 65% of the jet fuel it uses and that a “significant portion” comes from the Middle East under normal circumstances.

The Guardian similarly said: “The UK imports about 65% of the jet fuel it uses, much of which comes from the Middle East.”

In parallel, the BBC said airlines are not currently experiencing fuel supply problems, but “experts have warned that disruption to deliveries because of the Iran war could bring shortages within weeks.”

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander framed the policy as a way to give travellers certainty and avoid disruption at departure gates.

“New UK rules on flight cancellations as government issues Sunday May 3 update The UK government has announced new plans to protect passengers from last-minute flight cancellations this summer The Government has unveiled new rules designed to strengthen safeguards against last minute flight cancellations”

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In the BBC’s account, she said: “On the basis of the information that I've got today, I am confident that the majority of people that are travelling this summer will have a similar experience to last year.”

She also told BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “There may be a need for airlines to trim their schedules slightly.”

Alexander reiterated the same departure-gate rationale in the GOV.UK statement, saying: “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.”

The UK Civil Aviation Authority’s chief executive Rob Bishton welcomed the slot flexibility, telling the BBC: “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.”

Airlines UK chief executive Tim Alderslade said the plan would help carriers avoid unnecessary flying while protecting connectivity, and the BBC quoted him saying the plan would allow them to “avoid unnecessary flying and continue operating as efficiently as possible while protecting connectivity for passengers and trade.”

While the core policy is consistent across outlets, the reporting emphasises different mechanics and different levels of urgency.

The Guardian described the legislation as allowing airlines to “cancel or consolidate flights this summer to conserve jet fuel,” and said the changes include giving airlines the ability to “give back a limited proportion of their allocated takeoff and landing slots without losing the right to operate them the following season.”

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The BBC focused on the operational timetable, saying airlines can cancel flights “weeks in advance” and that the proposals would allow airlines to “merge flights on routes with multiple trips to the same destination on the same day.”

The GB News article highlighted the slot and compensation angle, saying carriers have “tried to stop being forced to pay compensation for flights cancelled by fuel shortages” and that under new plans airlines facing fuel shortages will be allowed to cancel flights “weeks ahead of time without forfeiting their take-off and landing slots.”

The Guardian reported that the plans were “hatched at a meeting last Thursday” between Heidi Alexander and representatives from Heathrow and Gatwick airports, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and easyJet.

Meanwhile, the GOV.UK statement framed the policy as a passenger-rights protection package, stressing that if a flight is cancelled by the airline, passengers have “a legal right to a choice between being re-routed or a refund.”

The government’s plan is paired with explicit passenger entitlements and a regulatory timeline for how airlines should act.

“IRAN LATEST: Britons' summer holidays at RISK with jet fuel CRISIS sparked by Strait of Hormuz closure GB NEWS Carriers have tried to stop being forced to pay compensation for flights cancelled by fuel shortages - with limited success Airlines have been told to prepare for large-scale flight disruption amid fears over jet fuel stockpiles at the height of the summer holidays”

GB News

The GOV.UK statement said passengers will have their summer holidays better protected and that the contingency preparations are designed to enable airlines to “lock in schedules earlier so that people are less likely to be affected by short‑notice changes at the airport.”

GB News

It also said the measures would allow airlines to proactively “hand back a limited proportion of their allocated take-off and landing slots without losing the right to operate them the following season,” and that “Hand backs” help airlines build realistic schedules and avoid last-minute cancellations rather than flying empty “ghost flights.”

The statement set out passenger rights if disruption occurs, saying: “If your flight is cancelled by the airline, you have a legal right to a choice between being re-routed or a refund.”

It further specified care thresholds, stating that if a flight is subject to a significant delay—“at least 2 hours for short-haul, 3 hours for medium-haul and 4 hours for long-haul”—passengers are entitled to care and assistance including “food, drink and overnight accommodation.”

The BBC similarly said passengers whose flights are severely delayed or cancelled will still be entitled to support from their airline under existing rules, including “rebooking on alternative flights or receiving a refund, plus food, drink and overnight accommodation when required.”