“There may be a need for airlines to trim their schedules slightly.”
Airlines will be able to cancel flights in advance without losing valuable take-off and landing slots at busy airports, if they face fuel shortages this summer.
UK ministers have drawn up contingency plans to help carriers avoid last-minute cancellations if disruption to fuel supplies worsens.
The proposals would let airlines reduce schedules on routes with multiple daily services to the same destination. Passengers could then be moved onto similar flights, helping airlines save fuel while protecting longer-haul and holiday routes.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “On the basis of the information that I’ve got today, I am confident that the majority of people that are travelling this summer will have a similar experience to last year.
“There may be a need for airlines to trim their schedules slightly.”
Airlines say they are not currently facing fuel supply issues, but experts have warned that shortages could emerge within weeks because of disruption linked to the Iran war.
The UK imports around 65% of its jet fuel, with a significant share normally arriving from the Middle East.
However, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has blocked key supply routes.
The International Energy Agency has warned that unless more fuel is sourced elsewhere, Europe could face shortages by June.
Alexander said there was no current disruption but warned “this clearly is an evolving situation”.
She said the UK was importing more jet fuel from the US and the west coast of Africa, while four domestic refineries had been asked to maximise production.
Under normal rules, airlines must use at least 80% of their allocated airport slots during a summer or winter season to keep them for the following year.
Those slots, particularly at airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick, can be worth tens of millions of pounds when traded between airlines.
That system can push airlines to operate half-empty planes simply to protect their slot rights.
The existing framework sits under the Airports Slot Allocation Regulations 2025 and is managed by Airport Coordination Limited (ACL), the independent body responsible for slot allocation at UK airports.
In late April, the government said updated ACL guidance would protect airlines from losing slots if fuel shortages stopped them from flying.
The latest proposal goes further by allowing carriers to temporarily hand back unused slots while still retaining the right to use them next year.
The aim is to let airlines cancel flights at least two weeks in advance rather than reacting at the last minute.
Alexander said the plans would give “more flexibility to airlines to plan their schedules”.
She added: “The last thing I want is any passenger turning up at the departure gate to receive a text message saying that their flight is cancelled.”
Airlines UK, which represents UK-based carriers, welcomed the move.
Chief executive Tim Alderslade said the plan would help airlines “avoid unnecessary flying and continue operating as efficiently as possible while protecting connectivity for passengers and trade”.
The changes require legislation through a statutory instrument, with a short consultation taking place this week.
The government is also considering whether to allow the use of Jet A fuel in the UK to improve supply flexibility.
British and European airlines currently use Jet A1, which has a lower freezing point.
Jet A could ease shortages, but high demand and infrastructure limitations may make that difficult.
Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden said the proposals showed Britain was “exposed to fuel supply risks that a properly energy-secure country would not face”.
Passengers would still be protected under existing consumer rights if flights are delayed or cancelled.
Airlines must offer rerouting or refunds, along with “care and assistance” such as food, drinks and overnight accommodation where necessary.
Passengers may also be entitled to compensation for severe disruption.
Airlines have pushed for fuel shortages to be classified as “extraordinary circumstances”, which would allow them to avoid compensation payouts.
That has not been accepted in the UK so far, although the European Commission has suggested airlines may avoid compensation if they can “demonstrate that the disruption was directly caused by the jet fuel shortage and that all reasonable measures were taken”.
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