TUI has issued an update over its jet fuel supply levels amid fears that UK holidays could face summer chaos due to the Iran war. Warnings suggest the UK may be most at risk from jet fuel issues because of the Strait of Hormuz closure.
TUI Boss Neil Swanson Speaks Out
Reassuring passengers on Thursday, May 7, TUI boss Neil Swanson addressed concerns. He said: 'We know you may be feeling a little uneasy after recent headlines, and we want to reassure anyone travelling over May half term that they can look forward to their holiday with confidence with TUI.'
For the 2025/2026 academic year in most English schools, the May half-term holiday (spring bank holiday) runs from Monday 25 May 2026 to Friday 29 May 2026.
Mr Swanson added: 'We have good visibility on fuel supplies and are operating our holiday programme as planned, with no flights being cancelled due to fuel shortages. Our careful planning across fuel, flying and hotel capacity means we're able to continue offering great value and stable prices – with no fuel surcharges added by TUI. The price you see is the price you pay, and all TUI package holidays are ABTA and ATOL protected, giving peace of mind from booking right through to returning home.'
Lufthansa Prepares Refueling Stops
Meanwhile, Lufthansa admitted it would likely inject 'refuelling' stops to services amid the fuel levels. Lufthansa is preparing to introduce refueling stopovers if destination airports run short of jet fuel due to the war in the Middle East, the airline group's CEO said on Wednesday. The measure would allow the German carrier to maintain its most profitable long-haul routes despite potential fuel shortages.
'If you will not reach your target airport with the fuel that you've got, then you have to do refueling stops. We're not there yet, but of course we are preparing for this,' Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said during the presentation of the company’s first-quarter results.
