The UK Government has issued an urgent appeal to Britons with summer holidays booked as the tally of cancelled flights continues to climb. In a joint statement, the Foreign Office, Department for Transport, and Department for Energy Security urged passengers not to alter their travel plans despite the ongoing crisis.
Flight Cancellations Soar
Approximately 13,000 flights have been removed from May timetables worldwide, according to aviation analytics company Cirium. Of those, 1,468 are from the UK's largest airports, accounting for 275,616 lost seats. At Birmingham Airport, 200 flights have been cut, equating to 21,880 seats. The actual number is likely higher now, following the UK Government granting airlines additional powers to merge and cancel services.
Government Reassurance
The joint statement reads: "There is no current need for passengers to change their travel plans. UK airlines buy jet fuel in advance, and airports maintain stocks to support their resilience. The government is working closely with the aviation industry to monitor risks and minimise disruption." Passengers are advised to check with their airlines and the FCDO travel advice before traveling, and to ensure they have appropriate travel insurance.
Impact of the Middle East Crisis
The global jet fuel crisis sparked by the Iran conflict has proven more damaging to airlines than the Covid-19 pandemic, according to AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes. Jet fuel reserves have dropped to their lowest recorded levels as the conflict wreaks havoc on shipping routes. Fernandes warned that other low-cost carriers could face a similar fate to US budget airline Spirit, which collapsed earlier this week.
As many as two million seats have been wiped out following the scrapping of 13,000 flights in May. Airports in Istanbul, Turkey, and Munich, Germany, have seen the steepest drop in air traffic. German airline Lufthansa has cancelled 20,000 short-haul flights, while Irish carrier Aer Lingus has cut hundreds of services from its summer timetable.
UK Economy at Risk
The UK economy is the most "structurally exposed" to jet fuel shortages, according to analysts at Allianz Trade. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has eased "use it or lose it" regulations to relieve growing pressures on airlines, and is promoting staycations to manage expectations should Britons find their summer holidays cancelled.
