Jet fuel has been making headlines, with reports of rising prices and potential supply issues. Naturally, many travellers are wondering whether this could affect their holiday plans – so what is actually happening? And what could this mean for your trip?
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Should I Be Worried About the Rising Cost of Jet Fuel This Summer?
If you’ve got a holiday booked this summer, we’ve answered some of the most common questions about jet fuel prices, supply, and what it could mean for your trip.
Why is everyone talking about jet fuel?
Jet fuel is what powers aeroplanes and is made from crude oil.
Crude oil is extracted from oil fields, and a significant number of the world’s oil fields are in the Middle East region. Therefore, with the ongoing conflict in that area there are issues with supply – and as a result oil prices are rising.
More recently, disruption to key shipping routes – including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz – has raised concerns about how easily fuel can be transported to Europe, even if it is still being produced.
How could issues with jet fuel impact my trip?
Planes need jet fuel to fly, so if supply is limited or gets expensive, airlines need to adapt.
It doesn’t mean flights stop completely, but airlines can make strategic moves – such as reducing the number of flights on less profitable routes, combining flights and tweaking scheduling.
Airlines will prioritise long haul flights and flights that are most in demand, because those generate the most revenue. So cancellations – if they happen – will be targeted accordingly.
What's the current situation in the UK?
In the UK, airlines typically buy jet fuel in advance and airports hold reserves, meaning carriers say they are not currently experiencing a shortage. The UK government has also advised that there’s no current need for passengers to change their travel plans.
However, with the situation evolving, contingency plans are now being discussed to help airlines manage any potential disruption in the coming months.
Are flights already being cancelled due to jet fuel issues?
The answer is – yes and no.
The majority of flights are operating as usual, with nothing noticeably different. But, there have already been some targeted cancellations.
For example, in April 2026, it was reported that German airline, Lufthansa, had cancelled 20,000 flights after claiming that soaring fuel prices have made many of their journeys “unprofitable”.
However, in instances like these it’s important to read the full story and not just the headline. In this case, many of the flights were lower demand domestic and short haul routes.
In addition, these 20,000 flights were over a six month period with passengers given the option to rebook on another flight at the expense of the airline.
Should I be worried about my flight I’ve booked this summer?
There’s no evidence of a widespread shortage at this point and many flights will go ahead as planned this summer. The headlines are simply reflecting the uncertainty and the anticipation of what could happen.
If you’ve already booked a flight, the best thing you can do is stay informed. Make sure your contact details are up to date with your airline and that you’re signed up for notifications. That way if anything changes, you’ll know very quickly.
What are the new UK plans to deal with jet fuel shortages?
On 2nd May 2026, it was announced that new contingency plans are being introduced to help airlines manage potential fuel shortages this summer.
These plans would allow airlines to cancel or combine flights weeks in advance – particularly on routes with multiple daily departures – rather than making last-minute changes.
The aim is to reduce fuel usage while also avoiding disruption for passengers at the airport.
In practice, this could mean fewer daily flights on some routes, with passengers moved onto alternative departures ahead of time.
Airlines are typically reluctant to cancel flights in advance, as doing so can put their valuable airport slots at risk. However, under these new plans, they would be given more flexibility to adjust schedules without losing those slots.
Overall, the intention is to help airlines plan ahead and keep journeys running as smoothly as possible – even if fuel supply becomes more limited.
And whilst this may seem like bad news for travellers, it’s important to remember that you still have rights if your flight is cancelled.
My flight has been cancelled because of the jet fuel shortage - what are my rights?
If your flight is from the UK then you are protected by UK passenger rights, regardless of which airline you’re flying with. Under these regulations, the airline has a duty of care to you.
The airline will first offer you a refund, but you don’t have to accept it. You also don’t have to accept a flight they put you on, especially if it’s many days after you intended to travel. Instead, you have the right to ask to be put on an alternative flight or transport mode, which does not need to be with the airline you booked with.
You also have a right to care and assistance if your flight is delayed by a significant amount (at least 2 hours for short-haul, 3 for medium-haul and 4 for long-haul).
Will I get compensation if my flight is cancelled due to jet fuel shortage?
Compensation isn’t always guaranteed if your flight is cancelled due to a jet fuel shortage. Airlines don’t have to pay compensation if the disruption is caused by “extraordinary circumstances” outside of their control – which fuel shortages could be, depending on the situation.
You’re also not entitled to compensation if your flight is cancelled more than 14 days before departure. However, you are still entitled to be rerouted or refunded, and the airline must provide care and assistance if needed.
I haven’t booked my flights yet - should I book now or wait?
If you haven’t booked your flights yet, your main concern may be whether prices could rise.
The general advice from the industry is to book early. Airlines currently have enough jet fuel, but as costs increase, prices may rise later.
There is also a possibility that airlines may reduce the number of flights on some routes if fuel becomes more limited, which could push prices up closer to departure.
Our advice is if you know you have a trip coming up, it could be worth locking in your flights now. Airlines will still be offering up deals to fill seats, but the less flexibility you have, the more you could end up paying if you wait.
You could also consider choosing a flexible fare, so you have options if the situation changes.
Can my airline increase the price of a flight I’ve already booked?
You may have heard that companies are allowed to increase the price of your holiday by up to 8% due to jet fuel shortages.
This is true in the case of package holidays, though many tour operators and agents have confirmed that they won’t be doing this if you’ve already booked. Companies including TUI, easyJet and Jet2 have said they won’t be adding surcharges to pre-booked packages.
When it comes to flights, the price you paid when you booked is fixed. Airlines might choose to charge more for new bookings if costs rise, but they can’t increase the price of a flight you’ve already paid for.
The only exception would be if there was a change to mandatory tax, like Air Passenger Duty – in this case the airline’s terms and conditions may allow them to pass this cost onto the passenger.
What can do to avoid being impacted by jet fuel cancellations?
If you haven’t booked yet, here are a few ‘best practices’ that may help to make your trip a little more dependable, but if you’ve already booked and haven’t ticked these off, try not to worry! There’s every chance your next holiday will also go ahead without a hitch.
Book a flight earlier in the day
Usually, when there’s an issue that causes flight delays, flights earlier in the day are generally less likely to be disrupted, as delays and cancellations can build up as the day goes on.
If airlines do need to adjust schedules or combine flights, earlier departures may also be less likely to be affected than later ones.
However, if airlines are cancelling flights in advance, this may not follow the same pattern – but choosing an earlier flight can still give you a better chance of avoiding knock-on disruption.
Book flights direct with your airline
You can sometimes save money by booking your flight through a third party but what most people don’t realise is that if things go wrong, you’ll need to go through them to sort it out rather than your airline direct.
Some third parties have excellent customer service (and others do not!) but they’re still a middle man between you and your airline. Therefore, booking directly gives you a more direct line for help should you need it.
Book with a UK or European airline
When you fly out of the UK, you are protected by UK passenger rights (UK261), regardless of which airline you’re flying with.
However, these same rights only cover flights returning to the UK if you are on a UK or EU airline.
This means that if you’re flying home on the likes of Qatar, American Airlines, UK261 protections won’t apply.
That’s not to say those airlines won’t help get you home – many will – but you won’t have the same legal protections.
Book a package holiday
Another smart choice is to book a package holiday, as these come with extra legal protections if something doesn’t go to plan.
They’re covered by something called the Package Travel Regulations, which means the travel company is legally responsible for your trip and must put things right if there are significant issues. This could include fixing the problem, offering a suitable alternative, or providing a refund, depending on the circumstances.
If your flight is disrupted, you won’t need to deal with each part of your trip separately — the company is responsible for resolving the issue and ensuring your holiday can go ahead or offering appropriate alternatives.
Our Final Thoughts on the Rising Cost of Jet Fuel This Summer
There are a lot of headlines around jet fuel right now, and it’s completely understandable if that’s making you feel a bit uneasy, especially if you’ve got a big trip coming up.
This is a situation worth keeping an eye on, and it could have more of an impact further down the line. But right now, things are still largely running as normal.
For most travellers, flights are continuing as planned, holidays are going ahead, and there isn’t expected to be any noticeable disruption this summer.
