In guidance published on GOV.UK, the Department for Transport has set out a clear message for summer 2026: there is no current need for passengers to change travel plans. The department says UK airlines are not reporting a shortage of jet fuel, noting that carriers typically buy fuel in advance and that airports and suppliers hold bunkered stocks to support resilience. That framing matters because the government is distinguishing a monitored supply risk from an active domestic shortage. The Department for Transport says it is meeting industry regularly to track risks, assess operational pressures and keep passenger communication aligned if conditions change.
The official advice remains that passengers should continue to check with airlines before departure, consult Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice and ensure travel insurance is appropriate for the journey. That is a more measured position than a general warning to rebook or defer travel, and it signals that ministers do not currently regard the issue as a system-wide disruption event. The Department for Transport also acknowledges that families, airlines and tourism businesses are operating in difficult global conditions. The immediate policy aim is to limit unnecessary alarm while preserving room for route-specific changes if pressure on fuel supply or airspace increases.
The cancellation data published alongside the guidance is central to that message. According to Cirium, only 0.53% of the UK's planned flights for May 2026 had been cancelled. Department for Transport analysis of Official Airline Guide data shows that around 1,200 departing flights from the UK were cancelled between 3 May and 14 June 2026, representing less than 1% of planned flights across that period. For transport and tourism operators, that places current disruption within a range the department says would normally be expected. The reductions to summer schedules have mainly affected destinations closer to the Middle East, rather than the UK aviation network as a whole.
The passenger protection position is unchanged. Under UK air passenger rights rules, a cancelled flight within the relevant scope gives travellers the choice of a full refund or re-routing. The Department for Transport says that scope includes departures from UK airports on any airline, arrivals into the UK on EU or UK airlines, and arrivals into the EU on UK airlines. In practice, that means the government's reassurance on fuel supply is paired with a clear legal fallback where services are withdrawn. Passengers are being directed first to airlines, travel agents or tour operators, with further guidance available from the Civil Aviation Authority and the government's air passenger travel guide.
Ministers say the government has been closely monitoring UK jet fuel stocks since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The Department for Transport says it is working with airlines, airports and fuel suppliers to keep passengers moving and to support businesses, while contingency planning continues for a range of scenarios. The guidance therefore combines public reassurance with operational preparation. The stated focus is on maintaining fuel availability, keeping flights operating where possible and securing a workable route to restore shipping flows through the Strait.
A more technical part of the response concerns airport slots. At coordinated UK airports, airlines are allocated take-off and landing times and, under the standard rule, must use at least 80% of those slots in a season to retain them for the following year. That threshold is intended to stop scarce capacity being held without use, but it can also create pressure to operate flights during abnormal conditions. Airport Coordination Limited, the independent body responsible for UK slot allocation, has updated its guidance so that airlines do not lose slots where fuel shortages prevent flights from operating. Carriers can now apply for an exemption from the usual 'use it or lose it' requirement in those circumstances.
The government is also seeking industry views on temporary slot measures for the summer 2026 and winter 2026 seasons. The proposal would allow airlines to consolidate schedules on routes where multiple flights serve the same destination on the same day, giving carriers greater room to adjust timetables without immediately putting future slot holdings at risk. According to the Department for Transport, that approach could reduce disruption for passengers and cut unnecessary fuel use by allowing fuller aircraft to operate instead of lightly loaded services flown chiefly to protect slot rights. The overall message from the guidance is cautious but clear: no general change to travel plans is advised, yet the regulatory position is being adjusted so the aviation system can absorb further pressure if required.