The UK government is set to relax certain rules for airlines in a bid to protect summer holidays from disruption amid the fuel crisis.
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While carriers in the country aren’t currently facing supply issues, the Department of Transport has said it hopes these changes will allow airlines to “plan realistically” and “lock in schedules earlier” so as to stop short-notice changes later down the line.
Airlines that operate multiple flights to the same destination on the same day will be able to consolidate schedules to reduce wasted fuel from flying planes which have not sold a significant proportion of tickets.
The UK government has also said that airlines will be able to hand back some of the ‘slots’ they are given to take off or land at airports without losing them.
Under current rules, carriers must use at least 80% of their allocated slots during a season to prevent them from being reassigned to other airlines. The practice hit the headlines during the COVID-19 pandemic, with thousands of ‘ghost flights’ operated.
“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,” Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said.
“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.”
Not everybody is happy about the proposed changes.
“Millions of Britons will have already booked their flights for this summer, often paying over the odds for flights at peak times,” Rory Boland, editor of consumer rights publication Which? Travel, said in a statement.
“Existing rules already allow airlines to move customers to new flights so long as they give them more than 14 days' notice and offer the choice between a new flight or a refund. It's only for cancellations within 14 days that compensation is payable, rightly.
“It's not fair for the rules to now be bent in favour of airlines and potentially leave passengers holding the bill. Many passengers will understand that disruptions can occur and may be happy to travel a few hours or a day later, but for those on short trips or connecting flights it could mean the trip is no longer worthwhile.
"Before any changes are made, passengers need cast-iron assurances that their rights will not be weakened and that airlines cannot use reform as cover to shift the cost of disruption onto travellers."
The UK has increased domestic jet fuel production in response to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the US-Israel attack on Iran. Jet fuel supply imports come to the UK from a number of countries not affected by the crisis, including the US.
For passengers in the UK, if your flight is cancelled by the airline you have the right to choose between a refund and being re-routed.
If your flight is delayed significantly – more than two hours on short-haul, three hours on medium-haul and four hours on long-haul – you are entitled to food and drink vouchers as well as overnight accommodation where necessary.
Rights are similar for EU countries, with passengers offered either a refund, a re-route to your destination at the earliest opportunity, or re-rerouting at a later date at your convenience, if your flight is cancelled.
You can find out more information about your rights within the EU on the Your Europe website.