UK prepares for jet fuel disruption, flights could be canceled
Photo: passenger aircraft (Getty Images)
The UK government has allowed airlines to cancel or combine flights amid the risk of a jet fuel shortage caused by the situation in the Middle East, according to The Guardian.
The move is intended to help prevent mass disruptions to air travel during the summer holiday season.
According to a statement from the UK government, the new legislation will allow measures such as merging schedules on routes where multiple flights per day operate to the same destination, in order to prevent last-minute cancellations.
The changes also allow airlines to partially return takeoff and landing slots without risking the loss of their rights to use them in the future. Previously, carriers were forced to operate even lightly booked flights to retain those slots.
Flights are expected to be canceled in advance — at least two weeks before departure — so passengers can be rebooked onto alternative services in time.
According to the CEO of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, Rob Bishton, these changes will give airlines more flexibility and allow passengers to be informed of schedule changes earlier.
The decision was made after a meeting between Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and representatives of major airports and airlines, including Heathrow, Gatwick, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and easyJet.
Europe’s aviation sector is under pressure due to the risk of a jet fuel shortage amid the war in the Middle East.
Supply disruptions and regional instability have already affected logistics, and experts warn that reserves could be depleted soon.
Against this backdrop, airlines are facing rising costs and uncertainty over supply volumes. As International Air Transport Association CEO Willie Walsh noted, even short-term disruptions could lead to flight cancellations in the near future.
