1. The “Slot Amnesty”: No More Ghost Flights
Historically, airlines have been forced to fly “ghost flights”—empty or near-empty planes—just to keep their valuable takeoff and landing slots. If they don’t use 80% of their slots, they lose them.
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The Change: Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced on Sunday that these rules are being relaxed for the summer of 2026. Airlines can now “hand back” a portion of their slots without penalty.
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The Catch: Cancellations must be made at least 14 days in advance. This gives the airline the flexibility to ground uneconomic, low-load flights while giving passengers enough notice to rebook.
2. Consolidation: The End of “Every Hour” Shuttles
Expect a significant reduction in frequency on popular routes. If an airline usually flies from London to Paris six times a day, they may now merge those into three or four flights using larger, more fuel-efficient aircraft.
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The Goal: To conserve a global jet fuel supply that has seen exports drop to record lows (under 2.3 million tonnes last week).
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Who is affected? Major hubs like Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Birmingham are the primary focus of this relaxation.
3. Why is the Fuel Running Out?
The crisis is purely geopolitical. The Strait of Hormuz—which handles 41% of Europe’s jet fuel supply—has been effectively closed since March.
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The Price Shock: Jet fuel has hit $1,838 per tonne. Fuel now accounts for nearly 40% of an airline’s operating costs, making half-empty flights a financial impossibility.
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The Government Stance: While the UK currently has 4–6 weeks of inventory, the move is a proactive strike to “insulate the country” from a deeper physical shortage expected by June.
