TUI and Jet2 have both promised no flight cancellations or fuel surcharges amid fears over a UK jet fuel shortage caused by the Middle East crisis
TUI has issued a statement as fears grow over jet fuel shortages(Image: Getty)
Holiday firm TUI has issued a message to customers with breaks booked in May. As the Middle East crisis continues, worries are mounting that Britain could face a jet fuel shortage, potentially disrupting holiday flights.
The UK is the country “most exposed” to jet fuel shortages stemming from the Iran conflict, Goldman Sachs has cautioned, sparking concerns over cancelled flights and disrupted summer getaways. Britain relies heavily on imports travelling through the now-closed Strait of Hormuz and has “critically low levels” of stockpiles and inadequate refining capabilities, according to analysts at one of the globe’s biggest investment banks.
Last week, the government asked the four remaining jet fuel refineries in the UK – Fawley in Hampshire, owned by ExxonMobil, Humber in Lincolnshire, owned by Phillips 66, Valero’s Pembroke refinery in Wales, and Essar’s Stanlow site in Cheshire – to do everything they could to maximise supply.
In response, Neil Swanson, Managing Director of TUI, addressed passengers directly in a fresh statement, promising that flights during the May half term will proceed as scheduled: “We know you may be feeling a little uneasy after recent headlines, and we want to reassure anyone travelling over May half term that they can look forward to their holiday with confidence with TUI. We have good visibility on fuel supplies and are operating our holiday programme as planned, with no flights being cancelled due to fuel shortages.
“Our careful planning across fuel, flying and hotel capacity means we’re able to continue offering great value and stable prices – with no fuel surcharges added by TUI. The price you see is the price you pay, and all TUI package holidays are ABTA & ATOL protected, giving peace of mind from booking right through to returning home.” On TUI’s Facebook page, holidaymakers have been discussing significant price hikes for their getaways. Marie shared her experience: “We booked our August holiday nearly 18 months ago and paid 5.2K. Just checked it to book now and it’s 6.7K. Glad we booked so far in advance. Already booked the August 2027 holiday for the same price as we paid this year.”
Lynn responded with a similar tale: “We’re the exact same. Been going to the same hotel for 7yrs. They renegotiated the contract last year. For us to book for next year its going to be nearly 1k each more for our 2weeks. We’re going to make the most of this year as our last visit.”
Ron expressed concern about potential disruption to summer plans: “What about those who have already booked a hotel and flight for the entire month of August? I have a booking for my family and I’m worried Note that the plane is a TUI and the flight is to Egypt.”
TUI reassured customers with their response: “Hi there. We’re monitoring the situation closely. Right now, we don’t expect any disruption to flights or holidays, but we’ll keep this under review and contact customers directly if anything changes that affects their booking. ” In other developments, Jet2 has reported significant shifts in how people are booking their getaways. Consumer champions like Martin Lewis have urged travellers to opt for package deals, warning that booking flights and accommodation separately could leave them short-changed if things go awry.
According to Jet2, package holidays have now become the preferred choice for 51% of customers, marking a 5% increase since February. Meanwhile, the proportion of people booking through multiple providers has fallen by six percentage points to 20%, while those selecting ‘accommodation only’ has plummeted to just 2%.
Value for money (36%) and convenience (36%) remain the top motivations for choosing package holidays, but there’s been a notable four percentage point rise since February in those citing ‘added security with one provider, ATOL/ABTA protection’ (now at 26%) as a key factor, the survey found.
This safeguarding ensures customers are protected should anything go wrong with their bookings, including the right to refunds if travel plans fall through, while guaranteeing holidays meet the highest standards for customer service, booking amendments, and health and safety.
Jet2 has pledged not to slap surcharges on any confirmed flights or holidays to offset rising costs, such as jet fuel, giving customers peace of mind that the price they book is the price they’ll pay. Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2, said: “Consumers want assurance during times of uncertainty and package holidays provide that assurance. On top of all the protection that our package holidays guarantee, Jet2 is well known as being a consumer champion that goes above and beyond to look after customers. Ahead of a busy summer season, this means new and existing customers know that their well-deserved holidays are in the very best hands with us, and we are very excited about welcoming everyone onboard and taking them on their breaks.”