There is no fuel supply problem. Planes are taking off daily.
As conflict in the Middle East sends jet fuel prices to nearly double their February levels, airlines around the world have quietly withdrawn 13,000 flights from May schedules — a reminder that distant turbulence rarely stays contained. Yet for British travellers, the disruption remains largely abstract: UK carriers have maintained their full schedules, sustained by advance fuel purchasing and strategic reserves that insulate them from the immediate shock. Governments and industry speak with unusual unity here, urging passengers not to alter their plans while quietly preparing contingency rules should the summer bring harder choices.
- Jet fuel prices nearly doubled between February and April — from $831 to $1,838 per tonne — forcing airlines across Europe, North America, and beyond to cut thousands of summer flights.
- Airports in Munich and Istanbul have absorbed the worst of the cancellations, while major carriers including Air France, KLM, Delta, and SAS have trimmed their schedules under the financial pressure.
- The International Energy Agency has warned that Europe could face genuine jet fuel shortages by June, raising the stakes for a travel industry still recovering from years of disruption.
- UK airlines are holding firm: no British carrier has cancelled flights due to fuel shortages, and budget operators Wizz Air and easyJet say they expect to run full summer programmes including the May half-term.
- The UK government has quietly introduced temporary rules allowing airlines to cancel flights without losing landing slots and to consolidate passengers onto fewer planes — a safety net ready to deploy if conditions worsen.
Thirteen thousand flights have been cut from global schedules in May as jet fuel prices surge in the wake of Middle East conflict. The cancellations — representing just 1% of worldwide flights — have fallen hardest on hubs like Munich and Istanbul, while British aviation has remained largely untouched.
The price movement has been stark. Jet fuel traded at $831 per tonne in late February; by early April it had climbed to $1,838, before settling near $1,500. That volatility has forced Air France, KLM, Air Canada, Delta, and SAS to trim their summer schedules, with some carriers even exploring mid-route refuelling stops where destination airports cannot guarantee supply.
In the UK, the picture is calmer. The Department for Transport has reassured the public that no changes to travel plans are necessary. Airlines UK chief executive Tim Alderslade was direct: no UK flights are being cancelled due to fuel shortages, and carriers intend to operate full schedules through the summer. Travel industry bodies Abta and Advantage Travel Partnership echoed the message, noting that flights to popular summer destinations remain unaffected.
Britain's resilience stems from purchasing habits and preparation. Airlines buy fuel months in advance, locking in supply before crises strike — even though roughly 65% of UK jet fuel originates in the Middle East. The government has also introduced temporary measures allowing carriers to cancel flights without forfeiting landing slots, and to consolidate passengers from overlapping routes onto fewer aircraft.
The International Energy Agency has warned that European shortages could materialise by June if alternative supplies are not secured — a caution the UK government describes as evolving rather than imminent. For now, the message from all quarters is consistent: travellers should check their insurance, confirm with their airline, and expect to fly.
Across the globe, airlines have grounded 13,000 flights in May as the cost of jet fuel has climbed sharply in the wake of Middle East conflict. Yet in the United Kingdom, the picture looks markedly different. Those cancellations represent just 1% of all flights operating worldwide, and British aviation has largely sidestepped the disruption. Airports in Munich and Istanbul have borne the worst of it, but passengers boarding planes from London, Manchester, or Glasgow have little reason for concern.
The spike in fuel costs has been dramatic. A tonne of jet fuel traded at $831 in late February. By early April, it had nearly doubled to $1,838 per tonne. The price has since settled around $1,500, but the volatility has forced airlines globally to make hard choices. Air France, KLM, Air Canada, Delta, and SAS have all trimmed their summer schedules. Some carriers have begun exploring contingency measures—adding refuelling stops on longer routes if destination airports cannot supply fuel. Yet the picture in Britain remains stable.
The UK Department for Transport issued a statement reassuring the public that there is no need to alter travel plans. British airlines, the department explained, purchase jet fuel well in advance and maintain strategic reserves at airports to weather supply disruptions. The government advised passengers to confirm their flights with airlines and check travel insurance, but stopped short of warning of any imminent shortage. Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, was more direct: no flights are being cancelled due to fuel shortages, he said, and UK carriers are planning to operate their full schedules through the summer, including the May half-term holidays at the end of the month.
Travel industry representatives echoed the message. Abta, which represents British travel agents, said planes are taking off daily and people are continuing to reach their destinations. Mark Tanzer, Abta's chief executive, stated plainly that government and airlines are aligned: there is no fuel supply problem. Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, which represents smaller travel agents, noted that UK flights to major summer sun destinations remain unaffected. While airlines will inevitably assess performance and consolidate routes where it makes sense, she said the overall impact of May's global cancellations would be marginal.
The resilience of UK aviation rests partly on purchasing power and partly on geography. Britain imports roughly 65% of the jet fuel it consumes, a significant share of which normally originates in the Middle East. But airlines buy fuel months ahead, locking in prices and supply before crisis strikes. The government has also moved to cushion the blow by allowing carriers to cancel flights weeks in advance without forfeiting their valuable landing slots at congested airports—a concession that would normally be unthinkable. A new temporary rule permits airlines to consolidate passengers from multiple flights onto fewer planes, reducing fuel burn on routes with overlapping schedules.
The International Energy Agency warned in mid-April that Europe could face jet fuel shortages by June unless additional supplies could be secured from other sources. That warning carries weight: the IEA advises 32 member governments on energy security. Yet the UK government has characterized the situation as evolving, not imminent. Budget carriers Wizz Air and easyJet have both said they do not expect to cancel flights. For context, Which?, the consumer group, notes that airlines cancel roughly 2% of flights the day before departure under normal circumstances—a baseline against which current disruption can be measured.
For those holding package holiday bookings, there is additional protection. Tour operators face legal obligations to their customers if plans are disrupted, offering a safety net that independent flight bookings do not provide. As the May half-term approaches and summer travel season looms, the message from government, airlines, and travel agents is consistent: book your trip, check your insurance, and expect to fly.
Notable Quotes
No flights are being cancelled due to fuel shortages. UK airlines are planning to operate their full schedules this summer, including the May half-term.— Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK
The government and airlines are clear that there isn't a problem with fuel supply. If you have a holiday booked in for the coming months, we expect it to go ahead as planned.— Mark Tanzer, chief executive of Abta
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why is the UK insulated from what's happening globally? Is it just luck, or something structural?
It's structural. UK airlines buy fuel months in advance, so they've locked in prices before this spike. They also keep reserves at airports. That's resilience by design, not accident.
But the UK imports 65% of its jet fuel. Doesn't that make it vulnerable to the same Middle East disruption?
It does, in theory. But the advance purchasing means they're not buying at today's prices. They're protected by contracts made when fuel was cheaper. That protection has a shelf life, though—it runs out eventually.
So this is a summer problem waiting to happen?
Possibly. The International Energy Agency warned Europe could face shortages by June. The UK government is allowing airlines to cancel flights weeks ahead without losing landing slots, which suggests they're preparing for that scenario. But right now, there's no shortage.
What about the people who've already booked trips?
If you booked a package holiday through a tour operator, you're protected by law—they have to rebook you or refund you. If you booked a flight independently, you're more exposed. That's why the government is telling people to check their insurance.
Is there any chance this resolves itself before summer?
Fuel prices could fall if the conflict de-escalates. But the government is clearly hedging—they've given airlines permission to consolidate flights and cancel in advance. They're not betting on resolution; they're preparing for persistence.
So the calm we're seeing now is temporary?
It's stable, not permanent. The government's own language—"evolving situation"—tells you they're watching closely. The next pressure point is June.