Summer travel plans: What changes has the government announced and how will they affect you?

The government has set out plans to "keeping Britain flying this summer" amid concerns over a shortage in jet fuel due to the ongoing war in the Middle East. 

New plans unveiled by the Department for Transport (DfT) on Sunday are aimed at "protecting summer holidays from disruption" and avoiding last-minute cancellations for passengers.

But the newly announced measures, which are subject to a "lightning consultation" before they can take effect, have already proved controversial.

Here's what has been announced and what the reaction has been.

What are the new measures?

With intense global pressure on jet fuel expected to cause travel problems this summer, the government has announced that airlines will be allowed to group passengers from different flights onto fewer planes.

It's a temporary rule change, the DfT says, that lets airline carriers consolidate flights on routes where there are multiple trips to the same destination on the same day.

So passengers could be moved from their original flights to a similar one to save fuel used by under-booked journeys.

Under the new rules, airlines would be allowed to hand back some of their allocated take-off and landing slots without losing the right to operate them in the future.

This would "help airlines build realistic schedules and avoid last-minute cancellations rather than flying empty 'ghost flights' or cancelling at short notice, putting passengers' plans at risk", the government said.

Why is this being brought in?

Since the US and Israel started bombing Iran at the end of February, Tehran has responded by restricting access to the Strait of Hormuz, which sees one-fifth of the world's oil transit through.

Supplies of jet fuel from the Middle East have been disrupted since, with multiple airlines and airports warning of cancellations or price hikes. Some airlines have already scrapped dozens of short-haul flights.

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What's the reaction been so far?

The plans have proven controversial already. Conservatives say it could see passengers "herded on to a different plane, at a time of the airline's choosing", while consumer group Which? has warned that rules should not be "bent in favour of airlines".

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, also noted that "existing rules already allow airlines to move customers to new flights so long as they give them more than 14 days' notice and offer the choice between a new flight or a refund".

The DfT said that the measure is designed to give passengers "greater confidence" by helping airlines to lock-in their schedules earlier.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander added: "There are no immediate supply issues, but we're preparing now to give families long-term certainty and avoid unnecessary disruption at the departure gate this summer.

"This legislation will give airlines the tools to adjust flights in good time if they need to, which helps protect passengers and businesses."

What are your rights as a passenger?

The government said it is raising awareness of passenger rights in the event of disruption, including being entitled to choose between either a refund or being rerouted if an airline cancels a flight.

Rob Bishton, chief executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: "Passengers in the UK are well protected by some of the strongest rights in the world, offering reassurance if disruption does occur.

"Airlines have a duty to look after their passengers when they face disruption, and should offer a choice between a refund or alternative travel arrangements, including with another airline, if a flight is cancelled.

"Relaxing the rules around slots at airports will allow airlines more flexibility and so we expect them to give passengers as much notice as possible of cancellations during this period."

(c) Sky News 2026: Summer travel plans: What changes has the government announced and how will they affect you?