Heathrow Airport: 100 flights removed from May schedule amid jet fuel shortage fears as Middle East conflict continues

Dozens of flights have been removed from schedules at Heathrow Airport amid fears over the supply of jet fuel as the US/Israeli conflict in the Middle East continues. More than 100 journeys have disappeared from the May flight schedule at the UK's busiest airport, as jet fuel prices climb and passage through the Strait of Hormuz - a major route for oil supplies - remains disrupted.

The news comes as travellers and experts fear flights could be cancelled if fuel supplies run short, with 111 flights now removed from the schedule, according to the Guardian. At the weekend, the government told airlines they would be given more flexibility to consolidate flights on popular routes if needed, meaning passengers' travel details could be altered to cut the number of trips in a bid to conserve fuel supplies.

The flights removed from Heathrow's schedule means two million seats have been cut as airlines realign operations to save fuel - and avoid higher costs, with oil prices soaring since the start of the US/Israel-led war more than two months ago. In retaliation for the US/Israeli offensive, Iran struck sites across the Middle East and closed the critical Strait of Hormuz trade route, which sees around 20% of global oil supplies pass through.

Across the globe, around 13,000 fewer flights will operate in May, according to aviation analytics company, Cirium, with two million seats cut through the use of smaller planes and cancellations. Airports affected most are Istanbul and Munich, with Turkish Airlines and Germany's Lufthansa among those making the largest cuts.

However, most short-haul carriers in the UK have said they are well prepared for the crisis, and do not expect immediate cost increases, while EasyJet and Wizz Air have committed to operating full summer schedules.

But as the six-week supply of fuel begins to run dry, international agencies are warning Europe faces shortages if the war continues to disrupt supplies. In response, the government has said unusual measures would be allowed to avoid disruption for holidaymakers this summer, including the consolidation of flights where multiple trips are planned to the same place and cancellations if not enough tickets have been sold.

Transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said there were no “immediate supply issues”, but the government was “preparing now to give families long-term certainty and avoid unnecessary disruption at the departure gate this summer”.