Jet fuel crisis from Middle East chaos slashes thousands more flights to Spain and Portugal.
Brits face ruined summer holidays as airlines axe routes and warn of mass cancellations.
EU admits very likely disruptions with sky-high ticket prices while contingency plans get dusted off.
Budget carriers already gutting schedules as the perfect storm hits peak travel season.
Holidays to Spain and Portugal at risk as thousands more flights to be cancelled
Britain looks set to be one of the countries hardest hit by jet fuel shortages this summer, with warnings that millions more seats will be cut from airline schedules in May and June.
Several carriers, including Germany’s Lufthansa, have already slashed schedules to save fuel, with at least 13,000 flights – representing two million fewer seats – cancelled worldwide by airlines already this month.
Other carriers, including easyJet and British Airways, have warned that prices will have to rise as airlines’ fuel bills rocket.
According to Cirium, the number of seats available in May among global airlines had dropped from 132 million to 130 million between 10 April and 21 April.
The aviation analytics firm said that as the war in Iran drags on, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is likely to lead to deeper cuts in June, adding: “The longer the crisis goes on, the more cuts should be expected.”
The figures come amid warnings that airlines in the UK may be forced into rationing fuel due to shortages caused by the stand-off between the US and Iran.
Airlines have cut 2 million seats and 12,000 flights worldwide from their May schedules
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