Overview
- Following Thursday and Friday’s disruption at Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester, more than 40 flights were canceled on May 14 and a day later 25 more were scrapped as 465 services ran late, leaving some passengers stranded.
- Airlines point to a jet fuel surge tied to restricted flows through the Strait of Hormuz, with prices jumping from about $838 a barrel in February to near $1,800 in April and remaining volatile around $1,500.
- Cirium reports 296 UK departures canceled for May as of Tuesday, up from 120 six days earlier, though cancellations still account for less than 1% of flights and summer schedules show only small trims so far.
- Officials and consumer experts urge package bookings or immediate travel insurance because UK rules refund or reroute canceled flights but do not cover separate hotel reservations.
- The industry warns higher fares are likely if fuel costs stay high, with IAG flagging roughly £2 billion in extra fuel spend this year and IATA’s Willie Walsh saying airlines cannot absorb the hit indefinitely.