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summer holidays to be better protected as government consults on relaxing flight take-off/landing rules, providing certainty for passengers and businesses
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lightning consultation launched to provide airlines flexibility to lock in flight schedules early, prevent last-minute disruptions and cancellations
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Transport Secretary reiterates passengers are entitled to be re-routed or refunded if their flight is cancelled by the airline
Passengers will have their summer holidays better protected as government sets out plans today (3 May 2026), which will help cut the likelihood of last-minute flight cancellations this summer in the event of significant disruption due to ongoing global uncertainty caused by the Middle East conflict.
The contingency preparations are designed to give families greater confidence when travelling this summer by enabling airlines to plan realistically and lock in schedules earlier so that people are less likely to be affected by short‑notice changes at the airport.
While UK airlines say they are not currently facing supply issues, the government will be consulting with the industry in order to act quickly if needs be, before disruption takes hold, giving passengers and the aviation sector the certainty they need to plan ahead.
These temporary measures would allow airlines to, for example, consolidate schedules on routes where there are multiple flights to the same destination on the same day.
Instead of cancelling flights at the last minute, the measures would
- help move passengers onto similar services much earlier, helping avoid stressful delays at the airport
- prevent running flights which have not sold a significant proportion of tickets
- reduce wasted fuel from flying near-empty planes
The Transport Secretary discussed the plans at a roundtable with key industry figures on 30 April 2026, including representatives from Heathrow, Gatwick, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and easyJet, reaffirming the government’s commitment to keeping Britain flying this summer.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said
Since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the government has been monitoring jet fuel supplies daily and working with airlines, airports and fuel suppliers to stay ahead of any problems.
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.
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.
The measures being considered will allow airlines to proactively hand back a limited proportion of their allocated take-off and landing slots without losing the right to operate them the following season. ‘Hand backs’ help airlines build realistic schedules and avoid last-minute cancellations rather than flying empty ‘ghost flights’ or cancelling at short notice, putting passengers’ plans at risk.
This will build on the UK’s independent slot coordinators’ (Airport Coordination Limited) decision to update its guidance, ensuring airlines do not permanently lose their take-off and landing slots if they are unable to use them due to jet fuel shortages.
The measures the government is considering go further by allowing airlines to plan ahead and act on the best information they have available on fuel supply or wider impacts of the Middle East conflict, rather than wait for a shortage to occur.
The government continues to plan for a range of contingencies to increase flexibility on jet fuel supply and domestic jet fuel production has increased. The UK imports jet fuel supplies from a range of countries not reliant on the Strait, including the United States.
As part of today’s action, the government is upping awareness of the existing rights available to passengers in the event of disruption. If your flight is cancelled by the airline, you have a legal right to a choice between being re-routed or a refund.
If a flight is subject to a significant delay – at least 2 hours for short-haul, 3 hours for medium-haul and 4 hours for long-haul - passengers are entitled to care and assistance, including food, drink and overnight accommodation where necessary.
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.
Airlines have a duty to look after their passengers when they face disruption, and should offer a choice between a refund or alternative travel arrangements, including with another airline, if a flight is cancelled.
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.
Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, said
UK airlines continue to operate normally and are not experiencing issues with jet fuel supply. We are planning to take our customers on their well-earned holidays this summer and will always look after them in line with our obligations.
We welcome the government’s contingency planning, including slot alleviation, which is one measure which enables airlines to adjust schedules responsibly, avoid unnecessary flying and continue operating efficiently while protecting connectivity for passengers.
Karen Dee, Chief Executive of AirportsUK, said
While our partners across the aviation sector continue to report no shortage of jet fuel supplies, it is sensible for government to consult on possible action if this were to change.
We will now work closely with our airport members, ministers and officials to examine the proposals and respond on the best way to proceed that will lead to the best outcomes for passengers.
If notified of changes to their flights by airlines, passengers are advised to speak to their airline, travel agent or tour operator in the first instance.
Further information on passenger rights is available in the Air passenger travel guide.
