Transport Secretary issues jet fuel crisis update for Brits

Now, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has insisted holidays won’t face major disruption but said that some disruption is not completely out the question for Brits this summer.

The Cabinet Minister said more fuel has been imported from America while refineries have upped their production following jet fuel shortages caused by the Iran war.

A temporary rule change has been introduced by the government which will allow airlines to group passengers from different flights together on to fewer planes as part of plans to save fuel.

Why are jet fuel supplies at risk?

It comes amid warnings of a jet fuel shortage ahead of the peak holiday season if the Strait of Hormuz doesn’t reopen.

Supplies from the Middle East have been disrupted since the start of the war because of Iran’s effective closure of the critical international shipping route.

Is there a jet fuel shortage in the UK?

The government website’s latest update, posted on May 2, explains: “There are no immediate supply issues, but government is preparing now to give families long-term certainty and avoid unnecessary disruption.”

Asked if people jetting off abroad are likely to face problems this summer, Ms Alexander told Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: “I’ve spent every week of the last two months in close contact with airlines and airports.

“On Thursday (April 30) of this week, airlines told me very clearly that they have good visibility over the next six to eight weeks of jet fuel supply.

“There is no current disruption to jet fuel supplies.

“We are, for example, importing more jet fuel from America.

“We have asked the refineries in the UK to maximise their production.

“We’ve got four refineries here, refineries in West Africa are also producing more.”

She continued: “The last thing I want is for people to turn up at a departure gate and have last minute cancellations.

“I am confident, sat here today on the basis of the information that I have available to me, that the majority of people who are traveling this summer will have a similar experience to that which they had last year.”

New airline rule change could see families ‘herded on to a different plane’

The government’s airline rule change could see passengers moved from the service they originally booked to a similar one.

It aims to reduce the amount of wasted fuel from flying planes that have not sold out and might have been cancelled.

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It has been criticised by consumer group Which? as it said rules shouldn’t be “bent in favour of airlines”.

Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden said families could find themselves “herded on to a different plane, at a time of the airline’s choosing”.

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“The honest message is that Britain is exposed to fuel supply risks that a properly energy-secure country would not face,” he added.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has called for private jets to be grounded to save fuel.

“While ordinary people pay the price, the super rich are simply getting in their private jets at will – wasting huge amounts of jet fuel on unnecessary trips,” he said.

Would you mind your flight being switched this summer? Let us know what you think in the comments below.