New Thursday jet fuel supply update from TUI UK and Ireland managing director Neil Swanson

The UK chief of holiday giant TUI has released a fresh statement addressing concerns over jet fuel availability and potential flight cancellations. Ongoing global tensions surrounding the conflict in the Middle East have sent oil prices soaring. With a deal between the US, Israel and Iran yet to be reached, anxiety is mounting that, alongside keeping petrol and diesel prices elevated across the UK, the knock-on effect on the global aviation sector could be significant. Many holidaymakers are concerned that jet fuel supplies may be disrupted and that their summer breaks could face cancellation or steep price hikes. Several airlines and travel operators have been providing frequent updates over recent weeks. On Thursday lunchtime, Neil Swanson, managing director of TUI UK and Ireland, released a fresh statement for customers booked with the major travel operator. 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. "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." Much of the upward pressure on oil prices has been focused on the Strait of Hormuz, situated between Iran and Oman. It serves as a critical supply corridor for the world's oil. It has become a key bargaining tool in negotiations between the US, Israel and Iran, and has been effectively closed since hostilities erupted at the end of February. With the waterway accounting for roughly 20 per cent of global oil traffic, its closure has triggered significant knock-on consequences for the supply and cost of oil, from which petrol, diesel, jet fuel and numerous other products are produced. Experts have warned that even once the strait reopens, it could take months before conditions return to normal.