ABTA gives May half term update after flights cancelled in fuel crisis

People from the UK heading abroad for the Spring Bank Holiday are being given the latest advice on holidays amid growing fears over jet fuel shortages and flight disruption. Travel experts say flights are continuing to operate “as planned” despite airlines across Europe drawing up contingency measures following soaring fuel prices linked to conflict in the Middle East. Concerns have grown after reports that some airlines are preparing for possible refuelling stops on long-haul routes if shortages worsen. German airline Lufthansa has reportedly already begun contingency planning after one of its flights was forced to divert for fuel during a recent journey to South Africa. The airline has also cut thousands of flights from its wider summer schedule as fuel costs continue to rise. However, travel industry figures insist UK holidaymakers should not panic. Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive of ABTA – The Travel Association, said: “We really don’t want people worrying about their holidays; planes are taking off daily and people are continuing to get away on their holidays. 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 – including the May half term – we expect it to go ahead as planned.” He added: “Whilst there have been reports about cancellations globally, these amount to less than one per cent of overall flights.” According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, around 13,000 flights worldwide have reportedly been cut during May. Munich and Istanbul are believed to be among the worst-affected destinations. The Department for Transport has also said there is currently “no need” for travellers to change their plans. Officials say UK airlines buy fuel in advance and airports continue to maintain reserves to help prevent disruption. Passengers are still being advised to check flight updates with airlines before travelling and ensure they have suitable travel insurance in place. Some 120 flights from the UK this month have been cancelled, new figures show, as jet fuel prices surge and fears of shortages grow. Cirium said airlines have axed 120 of the 22,613 departures initially scheduled from UK airports in May, equivalent to 0.53%. The number of outbound flights planned for June is 36 lower than a week ago. This represents a 0.2% reduction and means capacity for the month has fallen by 7,972 seats. The final week of May is a peak period for holidays as it is half-time at many schools. For all flights globally, some 13,005 planned for May were cancelled between April 10 and April 21, equivalent to 1.5%. That reduced capacity by almost two million seats. Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said airlines are “assessing poor performance flights and consolidating or cancelling as required”. She added that UK departures to popular summer hotspots “remain unaffected” and insisted “customers can continue to book with confidence”. Paul Charles, founder of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said: “Airlines are now being forced to cut flights and make difficult decisions ahead of the peak season. “It is better for them to cancel flights well in advance so that passengers are less inconvenienced than a last-minute change of plan. As the Iran conflict continues, there will need to be many more cancellations as the jet fuel supply is squeezed.” Lufthansa’s airline group announced in April it would cancel 20,000 flights over the following six months to save fuel. Iran continues to have a stranglehold on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, leading to a surge in oil prices and concerns of jet fuel shortages. But on Sunday, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said summer holiday plans will not face major disruption because of the latter. She revealed that more fuel has been imported from America, while refineries have upped their production. The Government has also introduced a temporary rule change allowing airlines to group passengers from different flights together on to fewer planes to save fuel.