The Guardian reports that UK carriers have been “given the green light” to cull or merge services in order to conserve scarce jet fuel and keep summer operations predictable. Under draft regulations published on 3 May, airlines will be able to cancel flights at least two weeks in advance or combine multiple departures on the same routing without forfeiting the underlying airport slot. Civil Aviation Authority chief executive Rob Bishton welcomed the flexibility, arguing it will enable airlines to protect connectivity while giving travellers time to re-plan. Industry sources say British Airways and easyJet have already modelled scenarios that would see 1–3 per cent of summer seats removed—primarily off-peak rotations with alternative same-day options. The legislation follows a high-level summit between Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and senior executives from Heathrow, Gatwick, Virgin Atlantic and others. Delegates were told that European jet-fuel stocks have fallen to their lowest level since 2017 and that further Middle-East escalation could trigger a supply shock within six weeks. Consumer groups broadly support the pre-emptive cancellations, noting that passengers moved more than 14 days before departure are not entitled to UK 261 cash compensation but do retain refund or rerouting rights. Travel insurance providers have begun emailing corporate clients to clarify cover triggers and advise early check-in to mitigate potential knock-on delays. For mobility managers the practical upshot is clear: lock in mission-critical travel now, track GDS schedule changes daily and build buffer time into itineraries, especially for multi-sector long-haul trips that rely on London hub connections.
Source: The Guardian
