The UK government has announced contingency plans to protect summer holiday flights amid ongoing jet fuel supply issues caused by the US-Iran conflict and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Airlines will be expected to consolidate schedules on certain routes with multiple flights to the same destination on the same day as part of the contingency measures.
UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the government is stepping in to protect travellers from the likelihood of last-minute flight cancellations over the upcoming summer holiday period.
The contingency plans are designed to enable 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.
Airlines will be allowed 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.
The measures will also allow airlines to move passengers onto similar services, prevent running flights which have not sold a significant proportion of tickets and reduce wasted fuel from flying near-empty planes.
The UK government said it is increasing awareness around consumer rights as it works to increase flexibility on jet fuel supply and domestic jet fuel production.
