Half-Term Flights Face Fuel-Crisis Cuts

Airlines worldwide have removed about 13,000 May flights and nearly two million seats as jet fuel shortages start to affect schedules. The cuts could hit families travelling during the late-May half-term period in the UK and parts of mainland Europe. The reductions come before what may be a difficult summer for aviation, with fuel costs already forcing airlines to rethink capacity.

According to Cirium, global May capacity stood at 132 million seats earlier in April, then dropped to 130 million within a fortnight. That loss reflects both cancelled flights and smaller aircraft being used on some routes. The pressure is linked to the Iran conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has tightened oil and jet fuel supply.

Among European carriers trimming schedules are Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, British Airways and KLM. Lufthansa has been one of the hardest-hit names, with large short-haul reductions reported for the summer programme. In the UK, ministers have temporarily relaxed the rule that normally makes airlines use airport slots or risk losing them, giving carriers more room to cancel early.

The disruption may push holidaymakers towards better-connected airports and routes with several daily services, where replacement options are easier to arrange. Trips linked to rail or ferry connections may also look more practical for nearby European breaks. Cities with strong transport links, such as Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels or Edinburgh, could be easier to protect than smaller seasonal routes with fewer backup flights.

Anyone flying in May or early summer should treat their booking as movable until the aircraft actually leaves the gate. The safest move is boring but useful: check airline emails, avoid tight connections, keep hotel cancellation terms flexible and know refund rights before travelling. This is not a reason to panic, but it is a reason to plan with less fantasy and more margin.