Worried about your summer holiday? Airlines and government respond to jet fuel fears

From fuel prices to flight cancellations, here’s what UK families need to know before travelling this summer.

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Published: May 21, 2026 at 1:36 PM

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If you have already started packing the sun hats and Factor 50, you might also be quietly wondering, will our flight actually take off this summer?

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With headlines about conflict in the Middle East, rising fuel prices and potential supply disruption, many UK families are feeling uneasy about their summer holiday plans. The good news is that airlines and the government are both stressing there are currently no jet fuel shortages affecting UK flights.

Here is what we know so far, and what it means for your family getaway.

Are there jet fuel shortages in the UK?

The concerns stem from disruption to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global route for energy supplies, which has pushed up international fuel prices.

Despite global disruption linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, airlines say they are not experiencing supply problems.

Kenton Jarvis, chief executive of EasyJet, told the BBC:

"We've seen absolutely no issues with fuel supply in any of our airports in the UK across Europe or indeed beyond."

I would absolutely say don't panic about it, at EasyJet we fully intend to fly the summer schedule that we have on sale.

Kenton Jarvis, CEO of EasyJet

Ryanair has also said Europe remains "relatively well supplied with jet fuel".

At government level, ministers say there are no immediate supply issues, but contingency planning is under way.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “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.”

Why are fuel prices rising?

Although there is no physical shortage in the UK, prices have been volatile. Jet fuel prices nearly doubled earlier in the spring before falling back slightly.

EasyJet has said the conflict added £25m to its fuel bill in March alone. The airline has hedged 72% of its fuel for the summer at pre-conflict prices, which helps cushion the impact.

Jarvis also confirmed EasyJet would not be adding fuel surcharges to fares.

For families who have already booked, there is currently no suggestion that airlines will introduce extra fuel charges.

Are people delaying booking their holidays?

One clear trend is that families are booking later.

Jarvis said EasyJet had seen a "shortened booking window", explaining:

"As you look further out people are more cautious, people are waiting and watching, but they are booking… and I expect that strong late booking market to run through the summer."

Other travel companies are reporting similar patterns. Tui has seen a 10% fall in revenue from UK summer bookings compared with last year, with customers choosing to commit closer to departure.

However, industry leaders stress that demand for travel remains strong overall.

Could flights still be cancelled?

The government has launched a consultation to temporarily relax airport slot rules. This would allow airlines to adjust schedules earlier if needed, rather than cancelling flights at the last minute.

The aim is to:

Heidi Alexander said:

“This legislation will give airlines the tools to adjust flights in good time if they need to, which helps protect passengers and businesses.”

So while some routes could see timetable tweaks, the intention is to give families more notice, not less. That means fewer last-minute gate announcements and more time to rearrange plans if needed.

If my flight is cancelled, what are my rights?

UK passengers are protected by strong travel regulations.

Rob Bishton, Chief Executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:

“Passengers in the UK are well protected by some of the strongest rights in the world, offering reassurance if disruption does occur.”

If your flight is cancelled by the airline, you are legally entitled to choose between:

If your flight is significantly delayed, defined as at least 2 hours for short-haul, 3 hours for medium-haul and 4 hours for long-haul, airlines must provide care and assistance, including food, drink and accommodation if necessary.

What is ATOL protection and how does it protect your holiday?

If you book a package holiday that includes a flight through a UK travel company, it should be protected by ATOL.

ATOL stands for Air Travel Organisers’ Licence and is run by the Civil Aviation Authority. It protects you if the travel company you booked with stops trading.

If your holiday is ATOL protected:

ATOL protection applies to package holidays that include flights and are sold by UK-based companies. It does not cover hotel-only bookings or flights booked directly with an airline outside of a package.

Importantly, ATOL does not cover cancellations caused by operational disruption. It specifically protects you if the travel company goes out of business.

What is ABTA protection?

ABTA is the UK travel association. Many travel companies are ABTA members, and this provides financial protection for certain types of bookings.

ABTA protection typically applies to:

If an ABTA member providing your package holiday goes out of business:

However, protection rules can vary depending on what type of booking you made, whether it was a package, a linked travel arrangement or separate elements booked individually.

If you book flights and accommodation separately, rather than as a package, your trip may not be financially protected in the same way.

How can you check if your holiday is protected?

Before you travel:

Financial protection can feel complicated, especially when you are juggling passports, school term dates and packing lists. But knowing whether your holiday is ATOL or ABTA protected can offer real reassurance if plans change.

So, should families be worried?

Right now, airlines are operating normally and say they intend to run full summer schedules. The government is planning ahead to reduce the risk of last-minute chaos, and passenger rights remain firmly in place.

The wider global fuel situation is still evolving, and prices remain sensitive to international developments. But for now, the message from both airlines and ministers is clear, there is no need to panic.

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For families counting down to their summer escape, that should mean one thing, you can focus on sun cream, snacks and keeping the kids entertained, not staring anxiously at the departure board.

Authors

Ruairidh PritchardDigital Growth Lead

Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.

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