Heathrow and Gatwick have urged the government to abandon plans that would allow airlines to cancel flights without notice, a move that could jeopardize the summer holidays of millions of Britons. The leading airports reportedly wrote to the government opposing proposed changes to the 'use it or lose it' rules, which currently require airlines to operate at least 80% of their reserved airport slots or risk losing them.
Current Rules Provide Sufficient Cushioning
Under existing regulations, airlines can already postpone up to 20% of their flights while retaining the ability to run them the following season. This means airlines can scrap around 25,000 flights—equaling approximately five million seats—at Gatwick alone without facing repercussions. However, the government has been considering loosening these rules to cushion airlines from the travel crisis caused by the Iran war, which could result in more than 100,000 flight cancellations.
Heathrow and Gatwick responded to a government consultation on the proposed rule changes, telling the transport ministry that the existing rules provide sufficient cushioning, as reported by The Telegraph. An airport insider expressed concerns that airlines could take advantage of softer rules by ripping up their summer schedules, plunging holiday plans into chaos.
Airports UK Supports Existing Mechanisms
A spokesperson for trade body Airports UK stated: 'We are supportive of government efforts to plan for future contingencies. But we are not there yet and supply is not an issue. Our view is that the existing mechanisms will suffice for the time being. We haven’t heard anything that would suggest that there is a need to go any further.'
Public Concern Over Jet Fuel Supply
The latest City AM/Freshwater Strategy poll of UK voters shows that jet fuel supply anxiety is emerging as a key concern ahead of the summer. Two in five Brits are concerned that fuel shortages could disrupt their own or their family’s summer holidays, and a majority (59%) say they lack confidence in the government’s handling of the jet fuel supply crunch.
Heathrow, Europe’s biggest airport, saw footfall drop by five percent in April to 6.7 million as the 'ongoing impact of the Middle East conflict' causes flights to be cancelled and rerouted. The owner of British Airways, FTSE 100-listed IAG, last week played down jet fuel fears, claiming it has yet had 'no issues with fuel availability.'
The Department of Transport was contacted for comment. Method note: Freshwater Strategy interviewed n=1,243 eligible voters in the UK, aged 18+ online, between 9–10 May 2026. Margin of Error +/- 2.8%. Data are weighted to be representative of UK voters. Freshwater Strategy are members of the British Polling Council and abide by their rules.
