UK airlines cleared to cancel or merge flights to save jet fuel

Airlines in the United Kingdom may scale back or merge flights this summer to save on jet fuel, as ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to affect supply.

Under proposed government legislation announced on Sunday (May 3), airlines would be allowed to combine flights on routes with multiple daily departures, helping to avoid last-minute cancellations.

The rules would also let carriers return a limited number of takeoff and landing slots without risking their future allocation—something that currently encourages airlines to operate underfilled flights just to retain those slots.

If fuel shortages arise, airlines plan to cancel flights ahead of time and rebook passengers onto alternative services.

READ MORE: Europe may run out of jet fuel in six weeks: IEA chief

As reported by the BBC, Rob Bishton, the chief executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “Relaxing the rules around slots at airports will allow airlines more flexibility and so we expect them to give passengers as much notice as possible of cancellations during this period.”

The Strait of Hormuz – a crucial route for global oil and gas shipments – has effectively been shut since early March, triggering energy shortages in several countries and raising concerns across Europe about dwindling jet fuel supplies.

Some estimates suggest Europe may have only a few weeks’ worth of jet fuel remaining.

READ MORE: "Increase prices or cut back": Jet fuel crisis deepens, airlines scrap flights worldwide

The UK relies heavily on imports for around 65 per cent of its jet fuel, with a large share sourced from the Middle East.

“There are no immediate supply issues, but we’re preparing now to give families long-term certainty and avoid unnecessary disruption at the departure gate this summer,” stated UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.

“This legislation will give airlines the tools to adjust flights in good time if they need to, which helps protect passengers and businesses. We will do everything we can to insulate our country from the impact of the situation in the Middle East.”

Situation in Canada

Last week, Air Canada scrapped its full-year guidance as rising geopolitical tensions in Iran drive up fuel prices and create uncertainty around travel demand.

Fuel costs, normally about 25 per cent of operating expenses, have surged to nearly double their previous levels since the conflict began.

The spike in fuel costs has pushed Canadian carriers to take defensive measures, including trimming flight schedules, raising ticket prices, and increasing fees for extras like checked baggage.

Air Canada has already suspended several routes, including flights between Toronto and Montreal and New York's JFK Airport — effective June 1 – as well as Toronto–Salt Lake City, which is not expected to return until 2027.

Flights between Fort McMurray and Vancouver will stop May 28, service from Yellowknife to Toronto will end Aug. 30, and a planned route from Guadalajara to Montreal has been cancelled.

Additionally, the airline has cancelled its seasonal Montreal – Algiers route for the summer 2026 season and, according to a new report, there are plans to scale back more service in North America and the Caribbean.

This include flights from Vancouver to Halifax, Quebec City, and Miami, as well as from Toronto to St. Maarten.

WestJet has also trimmed capacity, reducing flights by about one per cent in April, three per cent in May and approximately six per cent in June, while consolidating service on lower-demand routes.

Air Transat, too, has reduced planned capacity by six per cent from May to October, with the extended suspension of its Cuba service through October accounting for most of that reduction.

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