Half term travel plans could be significantly hit as global airlines announce the cancellation of around 13,000 flights scheduled for May.
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According to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium, carriers have already slashed nearly two million seats from May’s flight schedules in just the past fortnight.
Cirium’s data revealed that the total number of seats available throughout May across all airlines globally decreased from 132 million to 130 million during the last two weeks of April.
The axed flights could significantly affect travel for individuals and families who have booked a trip abroad during half term at the end of May in the UK and in parts of mainland Europe.
Among the European carriers cancelling flights include Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, British Airways, and KLM.
The two million figure doesn’t include what is likely to be a hugely disrupted summer for passenger aviation.
A difficult summer ahead for aviation
Carriers have also cut millions of seats and switched to smaller planes as the jet fuel shortage – linked to the Iran conflict – continues to affect schedules, raising the risk of disruption for holidaymakers.
Alongside Turkish Airlines, Germany’s flag carrier, Lufthansa, is one of the most affected by the fuel shortage. It’s been particularly tough, cutting around 20,000 short-haul routes from its summer schedule.
Since the Iran conflict began in February, the cost of jet fuel has more than doubled, thanks in part to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has cut off around a fifth of the world’s supply of oil.
Globally, many airlines have raised fares on the most popular routes, fully cancelled flights on less desirable routes, and are continuing to use smaller planes to conserve fuel.
In the UK, the Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, announced that a rule which requires airlines to use flight slots at UK airports or see them handed to rivals would be temporarily suspended.
In practice, that means that operators, like British Airways, can cut flights without being penalised.
As the spring and summer continue, passengers on the most popular flights whose flights aren’t cancelled could be rebooked onto services on another day, meaning their holidays could be shorter than originally planned.
If in doubt, there is hope, according to UK-based travel experts at Which? Travel.
“It is understandable that holidaymakers are feeling apprehensive about their summer travel plans due to the wave of cancellations, Rory Boland, the body's editor, says.
“The percentage of flights cancelled from the UK remains small, when you consider that the worst airlines cancel over 2% of flights less than a day before departure, even in normal times."