The British government will temporarily allow airlines to cancel and reschedule flights in advance without losing their take-off and landing slots, in light of the risk of fuel shortages arising from the crisis in the Middle East. The measure aims to give airlines flexibility to plan for the busy summer season and avoid last-minute cancellations.
The government stressed that there is currently ‘no fuel shortage’ in the UK and that airlines are ‘not experiencing supply problems’, although it remains vigilant regarding potential disruptions. At high-demand airports such as London Heathrow or Gatwick, airlines must normally use at least 80% of their take-off and landing slots to retain them for the following season.
Under the new plan, airlines will be exempt from this requirement if they are affected by potential fuel restrictions, allowing them to cancel flights weeks in advance or consolidate services on routes with multiple daily frequencies. This will make it easier, for example, to consolidate passengers from several flights onto a single one, reducing kerosene consumption and prioritising routes with lower frequencies, such as tourist destinations without daily connections. The government is also considering introducing temporary changes to the slot rules for the summer and winter seasons of 2026, according to a statement.
The UK imports around 65% of the kerosene it consumes, much of it from the Middle East, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the US and Israeli war against Iran has heightened the risk of disruptions in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the Labour government is working with refineries and international partners to strengthen and diversify supply, it states in its note.
The reform has drawn criticism from the opposition and consumer groups, who fear it will facilitate flight changes that disadvantage passengers, particularly on short-haul or connecting flights. However, the government argues that the measures will help minimise disruption by allowing airlines to adjust their schedules well in advance rather than reacting to supply issues at the last minute.
“There are no immediate supply issues, but we are preparing to give families long-term certainty and avoid unnecessary disruption at the airport this summer,” said Transport Minister Heidi Alexander.
“This legislation will give airlines the tools to adjust flights in advance if necessary, which helps protect passengers and businesses,” she added.
Luke Petherbridge, Director of Public Affairs at ABTA – The Travel Association said: “ABTA welcomes this move from the UK government to provide additional reassurance and confidence to people that they can go ahead and book their summer break. Strong consumer protections exist which already provide peace of mind to UK holidaymakers; and ABTA and our members work hard to uphold those rights.
“It is right for policymakers to take steps that enable the aviation sector to plan and to provide additional certainty, but the government’s consultation must consider all parts of the travel sector – including travel agents and tour operators. The Middle East conflict affects all of the industry, and a holistic approach is required.
“At times like these, it’s important the industry has an open dialogue with government about what is happening right now, potential challenges in the future should the situation change, and measures of support that may be needed.
“We’re doing just that, meeting government and airline colleagues on a regular basis to provide the perspective from the whole industry – making sure they understand how any impacts would be felt by our members. We’ll use this consultation as another opportunity to do that. Alongside that engagement, our main focus at this time is to reassure people that travel is still going ahead.”