The head of the International Energy Agency warned last week that European countries could run low on jet fuel within weeks, forcing the continent’s airlines and carriers that fly to Europe to significantly reduce flights.
Many airlines have already raised checked bag fees or added fuel surcharges as the global price of jet fuel increased from about $99 per barrel at the end of February to as high as $209 a barrel at the beginning of April.
Other airlines, ranging from U.S. carriers like United and Delta to Air France-KLM, SAS, Philippine Airlines and and Cathay Pacific in Europe and Asia, have reduced routes and either increased ticket prices or said they would hike them if the war keeps oil from passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
“It’s very hard for the airlines to make predictions in this environment, so they’re going to be conservative, and that’s why it’s likely that their prices will remain elevated for some time until things really stabilize,” said Shye Gilad, a former airline captain who now teaches at Georgetown University’s business school.
One of the easiest ways to save money is to pack light (Getty Images)
With airfares and fees on the rise, consumers still can make choices that determine how much of their travel budgets will get taken up by paying to get to and from their destinations.
Act quickly
While consumers may be tempted to see if the war ends before buying airline tickets, the “wait-and-see” approach to booking flights is riskier this year, travel experts say, especially the longer the war goes on and the closer to summer and other peak travel periods it gets.
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“Presuming there is a lasting ceasefire — or better yet, peace agreement — it will take a few months for normal levels of jet fuel production and delivery to resume,” airline industry analyst Henry Harteveldt, president of Atmosphere Research Group, said.
The conflict in the Strait of Hormuz and President Donald Trump’s insistence on maintaining a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports illustrated the shakiness of prospects for oil flowing reliably again from the Persian Gulf and with it, an easing of the price pressure on airlines and their customers.
“My advice to travelers is this: If you find a flight whose schedule fits yours, with a fare you can afford, and on an airline you can at least tolerate, book it,” Harteveldt said. “But — and I cannot emphasize this enough —do not book a Basic Economy fare,” the cheapest but also the most restrictive airline ticket class.
Along with charging for checked bags and seat selection, most North American airlines do not give refunds or travel credits to passengers with Basic Economy tickets if they don’t cancel their trips within 24 hours of purchase. Policies may vary, but spending more for a Standard Economy ticket provides more flexibility, according to Harteveldt.
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Airlines have announced flight cuts in the US in response to a jet fuel crisis brought on by the Iran war (Getty)
Paying more up-front for a refundable ticket also proves advantageous because “if the prices start to dramatically change, you can cancel and rebook for the better price,” Gilad said.
Travel experts say that for now, longstanding booking guidance offers a baseline for how early to reserve a flight to get the lowest airfare: international flights are typically the cheapest about two to five months in advance, and domestic trips about three to six weeks out.
Last-minute bookings and other situations that typically command higher prices are likely to keep climbing, Gilad said.
“Remember, especially if you’re traveling on the major airlines, they’re going to have more ability to adjust fares. If you book too close to your travel date, you’re going to pay more,” he said. “The farther out you can book, the better.”
Keep an open mind
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Travelers who don’t want or need to reach a specific place at a specific time can find it easier to save on airfare. Shifting departure or return dates by a day or two — especially from peak weekends and holidays to midweek — often yields big price differences.
Choosing a different destination also may pay off. A flight from the U.S. may be significantly cheaper to one European city than another. Since budget airlines and trains connect much of Europe, and trains, an airport it cost less to get to can still provide easy access to a lot of other places.
Consumers not set on a certain arrival destination can try tools like Skyscanner’s “Explore Everywhere” feature to look for less-expensive options.
Looking beyond the closest airport for departures also can make a meaningful difference. Major hubs tend to offer more flights and lower fares than smaller regional airports.
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In some cases, booking a separate short flight or train to a hub will unlock a cheaper long-haul airfare — think Milwaukee versus Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
Travel light
Sticking to a carry-on bag, when possible, can help avoid the higher fees for checking luggage that many major U.S. airlines introduced recently, including Delta, American, United, Southwest and JetBlue.
If packing light is not an option, plan ahead because airlines typically charge more to add bags closer to departure, especially within 24 hours of a flight.
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Redeem your points
While fares are going up, the number of airline points needed for many flights has not increased at the same pace, said Adam Morvitz, CEO of points.me, a loyalty rewards redemption search platform.
Airlines still need to fill seats, Morvitz said, and offering more of them for fewer points is one way to do it.
Customers without enough frequent-flyer miles or credit card points for a round-trip ticket still can redeem their travel rewards for one leg of a journey and free up cash for other travel expenses.
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Many travelers redeem points directly through their credit card’s booking portal, where they’re typically worth about 1 cent each, Morvitz said. Transferring points to airline loyalty programs often unlocks significantly better value because most major credit card issuers partner with a range of airlines.
Take American Express, whose points can be transferred to Air France’s Flying Blue program. Travelers who don’t want to book with Air France still can use those points with the airline’s partner carriers, such as Delta, Morvitz said.
“Points are a form of wealth, and consumers should recognize that those points increase spending power,” he said.
Explore travel credit cards
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For those new to travel credit cards, sign-up bonuses may yield benefits that can be put to use as soon as this summer. Some bonuses are large enough to cover a flight after meeting a minimum spending requirement.
“Even if you were to travel the entire year, taking one trip per month, you would still earn more points simply by signing up for the card than actually sitting on a seat and flying,” Morvitz said.
Points and rewards can add up through everyday spending on groceries, dining and gas. Some cards include perks like free or discounted checked bags.
Residents have been told to keep their windows and doors close due to the smoke
Firefighters are currently battling a fire that has broken out at a landfill site in Cambridgeshire. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to the landfill site on Pools Road, Wilburton, at 3.02pm today (Wednesday, April 22).
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Six crews are currently at the scene alongside a water carrier. The incident is ongoing.
Clouds of smoke could be seen for miles. The fire service has told people living near the area to keep their windows and doors closed due to the amount of smoke.
A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Firefighters are currently responding to a fire at a landfill site in Pools Road, Wilburton. They were called at 3.02pm. Six crews are currently in attendance, along with the water carrier.
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“The incident is ongoing, and those living near the area are asked to close windows and doors due to the amount of smoke.”
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It is understood that the woman was approached as she walked at Hardwick Park in Stockton, behind the play area at 1.30pm on Monday (April 20).
Officers said the woman managed to escape and didn’t suffer any serious injuries but was “understandably shaken by the incident”.
The man is described as being of medium build, wearing an all-black tracksuit and a face covering and was on a black pedal bike.
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A spokesperson from Cleveland Police said: “There were lots of dog walkers and people in the park at the time who came to help the woman and officers would like to speak to anyone who was there at the time.
“Officers would particularly like to speak to a woman who had light-coloured hair and was wearing light blue clothing.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Cleveland Police on 101, quoting reference number 074004.
Emergency services were called to the A-road through Hemlington Row at 11.15am this morning (Wednesday, April 22), where the man was briefly trapped.
The 56-year-old is understood to have been loading a cabin onto the rear of a van at around when he briefly became pinned between them and suffered chest injuries.
The air ambulance was seen landing nearby and police closed the road around the roadworks.
The road was closed after incident for around three hours. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
A Durham Police spokesperson said: “The man has suffered chest injuries and was taken to hospital by ambulance. He is said to be in a stable condition.”
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The road was closed after incident for around three hours. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Police have now passed the incident to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for investigation.
The road was closed after incident for around three hours. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
The road was closed after incident for around three hours. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
A spokesperson from the North East Ambulance said: “We were called to an incident on the A690, Hemlington Row in Crook shortly before 11.15am on 22 April.
“We dispatched a double-crewed ambulance, a clinical team leader and were supported by Great North Air Ambulance Service.
“One patient was taken by road to University Hospital of North Durham.”
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The road was closed for around three hours while the emergency services attended but it has now reopened.
The Northern Echo has contacted the HSE for comment.
World Snooker Championship betting offers, free bets and best betting sites
The World Snooker Championship is underway at the Crucible, with the world’s best players descending on Sheffield for one of the most-watched and most-wagered-on sporting events of spring.
Names including Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump will be contesting the tournament, with significant betting interest generated too, from outrights wagers through to in-play frame betting.
UK bookmakers also run dedicated promotions around the event, with betting offers and betting specials. Here’s our guide to some of the best offers from six key bookies:
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Luke Baker22 April 2026 14:21
Another seed makes it through
An update from this morning’s session at the Crucible where yet another seed advanced. That’s now 12 matches completed and 12 seeds going through…
Could we have a first-ever clean sweep of all 16 seeds making it through the first round?
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The latest was 13th seed Chris Wakelin who looked to be in a battle with talented 20-year-old debutant Liam Pullen when the youngster pulled the match back to 5-5 but Wakelin went through the gears from there and eventually emerged a 10-6 winner.
The reigning Scottish Open champion will now face Neil Robertson or Pang Junxu in the last 16.
(PA)
Luke Baker22 April 2026 14:10
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WATCH: The Rocket pulls out a thunderbolt
Ronnie O’Sullivan was on fire yesterday afternoon and this shot was symptomatic of his form.
If The Rocket is knocking in the long balls, then the rest of the field must beware…
Luke Baker22 April 2026 13:59
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Who is Wu Yize? China’s ‘new superstar’ tipped by Ronnie O’Sullivan to win the World Snooker Championship
Wu Yize hails from Lanzhou in the northwest of China, a city famous for its beef noodles. It is a clear beef broth with radish slices, chilli oil and herbs, and aside from his family, it is the thing he misses most: there are plenty of Chinese restaurants in Sheffield, but they don’t do it like home.
It is a small cost for being one of the best young snooker players in the world. Wu moved his life to Yorkshire three years ago to be part of the growing stable of Chinese players in the city, and he could be the next superstar from the group.
The 22-year-old reached finals at the English Open and Scottish Open last season, and comes into the World Snooker Championship as the 10th seed and among the contenders for the title.
Read Lawrence Ostlere’s full profile of Wu:
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Luke Baker22 April 2026 13:45
Why Zhao Xintong is the man to finally break the ‘Crucible Curse’
The “Crucible Curse” is snooker’s most famous hex. Twenty men who have won their first World Snooker Championship title at the iconic Crucible Theatre since the tournament moved there in 1977 have tried to defend it the next year. All 20 have failed.
Everyone, from surprise, one-off champions to the greatest of all time who would go on to dominate their era have fallen short the year after their first world crown.
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But Zhao Xintong might just be different…
Luke Baker22 April 2026 13:30
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs He Guoqiang first session in pictures
Things could hardly have gone better for Ronnie O’Sullivan in the first session yesterday
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(PA)
(PA)
(Getty)
(Getty)
Luke Baker22 April 2026 13:17
First round results
Well over half the first-round matches have now been completed at the Crucible and we’ve got a unique situation brewing. So far, every single seeded player has won their match – normally he first round is an absolute bloodbath for the higher-ranked players.
Never in the history of the World Championship has there been a clean sweep of all 16 seeds reaching the second round. Will we see it this year? Surely not…
Zhao Xintong (1) 10-7 Liam Highfield
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Mark Allen (14) 10-6 Zhang Anda
Barry Hawkins (11) 10-4 Matthew Stevens
Xiao Guodong (9) 10-6 Zhou Yuelong
Mark Williams (6) 10-4 Antoni Kowalski
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Ding Junhui (16) 10-5 David Gilbert
John Higgins(5) 10-7 Ali Carter
Kyren Wilson (3) 10-7 Stan Moody
Wu Yize (10) 10-2 Lei Peifan
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Judd Trump (2) 10-5 Gary Wilson
Shaun Murphy (8) 10-9 Fan Zhengyi
Luke Baker22 April 2026 13:05
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Shaun Murphy criticises Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump’s conduct before World Snooker Championship
Shaun Murphy has criticised fellow former world champions Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump for missing the launch of the 2026 World Championship in Sheffield.
This year’s players gathered in Tudor Square outside the Crucible Theatre on Friday for a green-carpet ceremony celebrating the relationship between snooker and Sheffield, before media commitments with press and broadcasters inside the venue.
But O’Sullivan and Trump did not appear and unless they can provide a valid reason for their absence, such as a medical issue, they face a sanction from the World Snooker Tour.
Luke Baker22 April 2026 12:53
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Ronnie O’Sullivan is 50 and still a genius – but can he conquer snooker’s new Chinese dynasty to win historic eighth crown?
Even by Ronnie O’Sullivan’s absurd standards, this has been an astonishing season, achieving unfathomable feats including one break which left casual observers wondering how it is possible to score 153, six more than the “maximum” 147.
Even at the age of 50, O’Sullivan is still redefining what is possible on a twelve-by-six table.
O’Sullivan was winning major titles before the current world champion, Zhao Xintong, was born, yet he is still producing moments of unfettered genius.
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He arrives at the Crucible chasing a historic eighth world title, which would stand him alone in rarified air, one clear of Stephen Hendry. Significantly, despite his long love-hate relationship with snooker, O’Sullivan has shown he is still motivated to break new ground.
Read Lawrence Ostlere’s full analysis of ‘The Rocket’s’ latest pursuit of history:
Luke Baker22 April 2026 12:41
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When does Ronnie O’Sullivan play and how to watch?
Ronnie O’Sullivan concludes his best-of-19, first-round encounter against Chinese debutant He Guoqiang this afternoon.
The second session, which begins with O’Sullivan leading 7-2, starts at 2.30pm.
If O’Sullivan gets through, then his second-round contest will be the best of 25 frames, across three sessions against John Higgins. The first session is on Saturday 25 April at 7pm, the second session is on Sunday 26 April at 7pm and the final, concluding session will be the following afternoon – Monday 27 April at 1pm.
Every session of every match at the 2026 World Snooker Championship will be live on the BBC, with BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four, the BBC red button, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website all utilised for coverage across the 17 days.
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The tournament is also broadcast on TNT Sports in the UK, with every session shown across their channels and subscribers can also use streaming service HBO Max to watch TNT Sports.
He placed his hands around the victim’s neck, causing her to stop breathing for about 15 seconds
A man strangled his wife until she stopped breathing at her home in Cambridgeshire. Luke Davey, 35, attacked the victim at her home in Doddington, near March, in the early hours of November 16 last year.
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According to Cambridgeshire Police, the couple were in the process of splitting up and an argument had broken out. The victim began recording the argument with her mobile phone and Davey grabbed it before placing his hands around her neck, causing her to stop breathing for about 15 seconds.
Davey of Marshall’s Road, Raunds, near Wellingborough, also dragged her out of her daughter’s bedroom as she tried to call police from another phone. He was jailed for a year on April 21 at Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court, having previosuly pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation. He was also handed a five-year restraining order against the victim.
DC Chris Herring, who investigated, said: “This was a despicable attack which could have had fatal consequences. I would like to thank the victim for reporting the assault and supporting us with a prosecution. Domestic abuse is a force priority, and we will do all we can to put the perpetrators before the courts.”
The sitcom, set in an all‑inclusive resort in Spain, follows a group of mainly British holidaymakers who return to the same complex year after year.
In the original script, Noreen was supposed to be killed off in her first episode, but the chemistry between Kelly and Vegas proved so strong that the character was kept on as key member.
Benidorm creator Derren Litten honoured Kelly’s legacy, describing her as a “comedic genius”.
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“So sad to pass on the news of the passing of Elsie Kelly aka Noreen in Benidorm,” he wrote. “One of the best-loved characters in the show and certainly one of the most beloved cast members. Elsie’s acting abilities and comic genius were so natural they were almost taken for granted.
“Thanks for your talent but most of all your friendship Elsie. I am very sad today but also happy to think of such a wonderful life well lived.”
Kelly’s fellow Benidorm star Crissy Rock joined in the tributes, saying that she was “so sad” to hear of the actor’s death.
“We shared so many wonderful memories filming Benidorm, moments I’ll always treasure. She was an absolute joy to work with and brought so much warmth and laughter wherever she went,” Rock wrote.
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She appeared on nine of the show’s 10 seasons between 2006 and 2018, and in the show’s final season, also played Noreen’s twin sister Doreen.
The series, set in a Spanish resort, first aired in 2007 and ran for ten series with 74 episodes before ITV bosses cancelled the show.
Benidorm was a big hit for ITV, gaining more than eight million viewers and a big fan base, even inspiring many to visit the Spanish region for their own holiday.
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Creator of the show, Derren Litten, has previously taken to X, formerly Twitter, to share that he has more stories he would love to explore.
During its time on ITV, Benidorm became a hit, earning numerous National Television Awards and TV Choice Awards, and it was BAFTA-nominated.
Did you enjoy Benidorm? Let us know in the comments
Tottenham are looking to appoint a lead psychologist for their men’s first team after boss Roberto de Zerbi said they need to “change the mentality”.
Spurs have slipped into the Premier League’s bottom three, having gone 15 league games without a win.
De Zerbi was appointed as Tottenham‘s third head coach of the season at the end of March but has picked up just one point from two games.
The Italian said his job is to give the players the “right mentality” and it appears the club is taking steps to help him achieve that goal.
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In an advert posted by Spurs on social media platform LinkedIn, external, the club said they are seeking an “outstanding performance psychologist” to deliver “evidence-based psychological support to elite players”.
“The role encompasses individual player support, systemic work across the coaching and performance staff, and the ongoing development of a psychologically informed performance culture throughout the team,” the advert added.
“This role demands a practitioner who is credible, discreet, and highly effective in a Premier League environment, capable of building trust with players and coaches while operating with the professional rigor expected at the highest level of the game.”
I VOTED Labour in the last election. After the disgraceful behaviour of the last Government, I honestly thought that Keir Starmer would, at the very least, bring truth, transparency and honesty.
Watching Olly Robbins today, and the way he presented himself and the evidence he gave, it’s blown apart the explanations given by the PM. The PM has mislead the us all. I feel so sorry for Olly Robbins who didn’t deserve to be sacked.
Starmer tried to bully Mandelson into the US Ambassador’s role despite his relationship with Epstein and business links to China and Russia as well as his obsession with the rich and powerful.
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The defence of “no one told me” is insulting.
Starmer had the opportunity to tell the truth, take responsibility and he didn’t take it. We need a leader, not someone who sacrifices all those around him.
John Jones,
Russet House,
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Birch Close
York
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The influencer, who has more than one million followers on TikTok and Instagram, was seen walking through streets in the city centre on Wednesday afternoon (April 22).
Speaking in Clifford Street, Gymskin told The Press he was filming live content on the streaming platform Kick but declined to speak further as we was going for lunch.
More than 1,800 viewers were tuned into the live broadcast on Kick at 1.45pm, in which Gymskin could be seen posing for photographs with fans.
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Gymskin was joined by a camera operator and another man as the group walked around York city centre.
The video, which also featured clips in Leeds city centre, said the influencer was taking part in a UK tour.
“I’m so gassed, this is mint,” Gymskin said in the video after arriving in York.
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