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Holiday guru said people were coming to him asking if they should cancel their holiday

TV holiday expert Simon Calder has given a key holiday booking update for anyone thinking of going away in 2026. People who have booked with jet2, easyjet and TUI have been told that the operators will not charge supplementary fees for fuel even though the Iran conflict has seen prices soar.

The ITV and BBC expert said people were coming to him and asking if they should cancel their holidays. The EU has said that travellers face major problems this year due to the Middle East crisis and the UK Government has said it is working with airlines to monitor the situation.

However, Mr Calder said it was a great time to get mega deals – with some offering loads off. He told GB News: “ Do not cancel your holiday. And if you haven’t booked any and you’re feeling nervous, well, please don’t. Now is a fantastic time to book holidays.

“I wish there wasn’t, but I was looking for instance last night. So, these prices still available. Luton to Mykonos. Okay. Now, beautiful Greek island and most fares in July and August on that route are £55 one way. That is crazy. It should be three times that. It’s a fantastic time to book.

“And you might think, well, yeah, I’ll book the flight and then it’ll be cancelled. But air passenger rights rules are so strong that if you are if your flight is cancelled, then it’s not your problem. It’s the airlines problem. They have to find you an alternative on the same day if at all possible. So, of course, I snapped up one of these flights and I’m just looking forward to it. I’ve been booking holidays like there’s no tomorrow because there’s so many great deals around.”

He said that the current situation was leaving some people worried. He said:”Let me tell you first of all if you have booked a holiday – and I’ve had people it it takes me back almost to COVID – people saying I put this holiday the balance, is due I’ve got to pay you know a couple of thousand pounds should I just cancel the whole thing no go and have a lovely holiday in the UK.

“There will be some flight cancellations, and that is mostly big airlines like Lufthansa, which isn’t a holiday airline. They’ve cancelled 20,000 flights but they’ve done that basically because they were flights which they thought oh we’re not going to make any money out of that with fuel double the price it was so let’s just cancel those.

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“So they’ve taken those flights out. It’s not affecting anybody’s holiday that I know. We’ve had very very unhelpful warnings from European energy chiefs and from the prime minister saying, ‘Oh, you might have to think about your holiday.’No, you don’t. Just just plan your holiday as normal. There is a tiny chance that your flight might be merged with another flight. So, for example, and there is absolutely no plans for this, but if you look at easyJet from Gatwick to Nice, lovely destination, they got six flights a day.

“If they reduce that to four to save a bit of fuel. Well, it would be a slight nuisance for some people. They’d have to go at noon instead of 10:00 in the morning, but ultimately it’s not going to make any difference.

“Another real concern for lots of people is I could be stuck at the other end. Well, I actually put this to an airline boss yesterday and I said, ‘What what happens if you’re in Cyprus?’ Because with other destinations, if they run out of fuel in, I don’t know, Naples, that’s fine. You can just fly out with enough to fly back. Somewhere like Cypress, you can’t do that. And the boss said, ‘Well, it’s very easy. We’ll just do a pit stop in Athens on the way back’. So, there are lots of solutions. Do not cancel your holiday. And if you haven’t booked any and you’re feeling nervous, well, please don’t. Now is a fantastic time to book holidays.”

Jet2 has said holidaymakers are increasingly booking their trips at the last minute since the start of the Iran war amid increasing anxiety over the impact of the conflict and worries over jet fuel supply.

The firm said summer passenger number bookings so far are up 6.2%, thanks to growth across its airline and package holiday business, but in a sign of mounting nervousness among holidaymakers, it revealed the “booking profile has become increasingly close to departure” due to the Middle East war.

It said it is well protected from the fuel cost spike caused by the Iran war for the important summer season, adding it is “maintaining frequent dialogue with our fuel suppliers and airport partners on fuel supply”.

The group’s load factor – a key measure of how well it fills its planes – has remained flat year-on-year for its first quarter so far, though it said the conflict meant there was limited visibility for the peak summer season and beyond.

Its update followed a warning from Heathrow airport separately on Wednesday that it expects passenger numbers for the rest of the year to be affected by the situation in the Middle East.

Airspace closures following the outbreak of the war in the Middle East on February 28 have had a major impact on air travel, and while much of the region’s airspace has since reopened, many people are avoiding flying there because of the conflict.

A raft of European airlines have also recently alerted to impending jet fuel shortages within weeks, given the disruption to their main supply route through the Strait of Hormuz.

Around three-quarters of Europe’s jet fuel supply comes from the Middle East and travels through the crucial shipping route.

Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2, said: “Clearly, we continue to monitor the situation in the Middle East but remain focused on our medium-term goals.”

The group said it expects to report a drop in operating profits to between £435 million and £440 million for the past year to March 31, down from £446.5 million in 2024-25, but said this was in line with market forecasts.

It has increased its summer programme for 2026 by 7.7% to 19.9 million passenger seats.

Travel expert Simon Calder has explored the latest challenges facing UK airlines and passengers amid jet fuel shortages caused by the Iran war

Travel expert Simon Calder has released an update on his podcast about what to do should your flight be suddenly cancelled amid worldwide jet fuel shortages. The highly regarded travel journalist – well known for his frequent TV appearances and contributions to the Independent – has spoken with a prominent industry figure after seeing ‘so many people getting in touch feeling anxious about their holidays.’

He noted that many people were even contemplating whether to stay in England for their holidays. His remarks come as the Iran war continues to rumble on. The conflict, which began on February 28, has restricted the flow of oil and gas across the globe, placing pressure on markets and driving up the cost of jet fuel for airlines, reports the Liverpool Echo.

This week, jet fuel shortages have emerged as a significant concern, as statements from senior industry figures have sparked worry amongst ordinary travellers about the potential impact on their holidays this year. Dan Jorgensen, the EU energy commissioner, this week said: “Unfortunately, it’s very likely that many people’s holidays will be affected, either by flight cancellations or very, very expensive tickets. Even if we do everything we can do, if the jet fuel is not there, then it’s not there.”

Speaking on his podcast on Thursday, April 23, Simon began by saying: “You might be more inclined to stay in England because of all the headlines we’ve been seeing over the past couple of days. For example, Lufthansa of Germany said they were cancelling 20,000 flights.

“I’ve had so many people getting in touch feeling anxious about their holidays when I would hope they would be looking forward to them with great anticipation.” To tackle this, he spoke with Ted Wake, managing director of Kirker Holidays.

Simon put the question to him: “So just suppose I have booked a Kirker holiday. I’m maybe going to some of the great cities in Germany. Amazing cultural treasures to be found. And I’m flying maybe from Birmingham, from Edinburgh, from Glasgow, and suddenly Lufthansa cancels my flight. What do you do then as a tour operator?”

Ted responded: “We would find the nearest flight which would provide a sensible, practical alternative. We would liaise with the client about whether or not it was convenient for them and, if they’re in agreement, Kirker would pick up the tab for any logistical costs that have been incurred.

“There are occasions where tour operators like us might extend the client’s stay by an additional night and we might pick up the tab for that. But if you have booked through an ATOL-protected tour operator and the tour operator is mindful to nurture long-term relationships, it is in our interest to iron out the creases in that way.

“And you have mentioned some regional services there and it may be the case that Lufthansa cancel 1 or 2 of those but there will often be alternative flights, perhaps with a different carrier, and Kirker would pick up the tab for that as well as manage the logistical research in terms of what alternative flight could be suitable to ensure that people have a fabulous holiday.”

Ted’s remarks come just days after EU official Mr Jorgensen cautioned: “[Currently] it is primarily a crisis of prices and not yet a crisis of supply, but unfortunately we cannot be sure to prevent a crisis of supply, especially on jet fuel in the future, if the crisis continues.”

The International Energy Agency has similarly advised that severe supply disruptions could materialise within the next five or six weeks. It was against this backdrop that Simon addressed passenger concerns here in the UK.

Jet fuel flight cancellations and the EES

Ted highlighted that airlines are currently grappling with two distinct challenges – the jet fuel shortage and the new EES system. This system – the Entry/Exit System (EES) – is a new digital border arrangement that introduces additional checks for British travellers heading to numerous European destinations.

It launched this month. On your first visit following the change to a country within the so-called Schengen area (which encompasses many EU nations), you may be required to create a digital record upon arrival at an airport. You may be required to submit your fingerprints and have your photograph taken. The system has resulted in significant delays for some UK travellers since its introduction.

Ted discussed the jet fuel challenges confronting airlines and what this means for everyday passengers across the UK. He said: “I think Lufthansa has got a very comprehensive schedule. Twenty thousand flights isn’t a drop in the ocean but it’s a relatively small number if you look at the overall picture.

“I think other airlines within the UK market will be doing something similar. You might argue that it is a sensible logistical profit management exercise as well as a jet fuel situation, but I don’t see it having a major impact on consumers and if you book through a tour operator – of course, Simon, you tell your readers all the time and indeed your listeners for that matter – if you book through a tour operator, it’s a tour operator’s responsility to iron out all the creases so the consumer is not adversely impacted by the change.”

You can tune in to the podcast here.

Tourists travelling to some of the most popular holiday destinations in Spain have been handed an update on prices

Travel officials in Spain have warned that airline ticket prices are set to rocket this summer. The warning comes as the Iran conflict places severe strain on the supply of jet fuel to airlines across the globe.

The mounting pressures have already prompted some airlines to scale back their planned flight schedules, with knock-on effects already being felt on ticket prices. And bosses say there are further headaches ahead for holidaymakers at some of the most popular Brit tourist spots as the peak travel season approaches – with around 18 million Brits heading to Spain every year.

The latest alert was issued by travel agents in Spain. The Balearic Islands Travel Agencies Association (AVIBA) has warned those heading to popular destinations such as the 3 key tourist spots of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza to brace themselves for steeper ticket prices – even as it confirmed flights to the region are not expected to be reduced.

According to reports in the Spanish media, AVIBA president Pedro Fiol cautioned that ticket prices will inevitably rise sharply due to the financial pressures stemming from the conflict. He warned that the war is likely to produce a summer “with a context of greater tension and rising costs that will be gradually passed on to ticket prices”, Spanish website Ultima Hora reports.

Despite this, he maintained that the profitability of routes to the Balearic Islands makes it unlikely that flights to the area will be axed. He did, however, flag that this could become a possibility outside of peak season.

AVIBA note that airlines are currently maintaining “a certain restraint” in airfares. But the president warned that the scarcity and increased cost of fuel driven by the Iran conflict will undoubtedly result in higher airfare prices. The Airline Association (ALA) has issued a similar forecast.

Lufthansa yesterday confirmed the axing of some 20,000 flights through October as part of its operational shake-up. The carrier explained that these reductions relate to unprofitable bases, though none of these are located in Spain. The strategy is to refocus resources on the most lucrative routes.

Mr Fiol said: “We don’t foresee a summer with planes grounded due to a lack of fuel, but we do anticipate a more complex and price-driven environment.” Meanwhile, Spanish website INB3N reports that Mr Fiol also cautioned there was a danger that additional flights could be compelled to make stops so aircraft can refuel mid-journey.

This week, TUI revealed the Iran war set it back around 40 million euros (£34.8 million) last month after it was obliged to bring home thousands of holidaymakers and staff. Europe’s biggest travel operator slashed its profit forecast and suspended revenue guidance as a consequence, causing its shares to fall.

The firm is amongst travel companies to have been substantially disrupted by the conflict in the Middle East, which erupted at the end of February. It is also amongst airline operators to face strain from a spike in jet fuel prices after the conflict drove up the cost of oil.

And holidaymakers should have “no worries” about flights being cancelled this summer, despite airlines confronting a “triple whammy” as a consequence of the conflict in the Gulf, a former industry boss has maintained.

Tim Jeans, a former commercial director at Ryanair who was later managing director of Monarch Air, said that while there “may be some trimming of schedules” by airlines, he did not expect carriers to scrap routes entirely.

His remarks follow stark warnings from the trade body representing European airports, which cautioned that a “systemic” jet fuel shortage could emerge ahead of the peak summer season if the Strait of Hormuz fails to reopen in the coming weeks.

Airports Council International, which represents more than 600 airports, recently wrote to European commissioners for energy, transport and tourism, warning that if the vital strait does not reopen in a “significant and stable way within the next three weeks” then “systemic jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality for the EU”.

Director-general Olivier Jankovec said: “The fact that we are entering the peak summer season… is only adding to those concerns.” However, Mr Jeans insisted: “I don’t see a situation where flights will get cancelled because of the non-availability of fuel.”

He acknowledged that there was a “triple whammy for airlines at the moment”, pointing to “the issues in the Middle East which has caused a massive spike in the cost of fuel”.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme, Mr Jeans added: “That in turn is pushing up ticket prices, and the uncertainty around whether it is going to be possible to travel, plus the increase in prices is reducing demand.

“And so you have a situation where airlines are looking at their bookings for the next three months ahead and saying ‘should we fly that flight, is it going to be profitable?'”

Just because you have booked your break, doesn’t mean that is the price you will pay

Travel industry chiefs have warned that holiday prices could go up – even for people who have already booked. There are fears of cancellations, delays and disruptions this summer as oil supplies are restricted by the war in Iran.

And there are concerns that prices of travel will go up to cover the rising cost of fuel. But industry experts have also raised the spectre of the price of existing holiday bookings going up.

That means people who have already booked and paid for their holidays being asked to pay more if they still want to travel. Emma Brennan from travel agent and tour operator trade association ABTA said the legislation allows companies to ask for more money.

Speaking to BBC Money Box Live, she said: “There is something in the package travel regulations which just applies to package holidays, that travel companies could increase the cost of package holidays by what they call a fare charge. However, it very rarely happens, and there have been so many situations of disruption and uncertainty in recent years, and we haven’t seen this happening.

“And even if the travel company did choose to do it, there are quite strict rules around it. So, for example, it would have to have been in their terms and conditions, they can only do it up to the cost of eight per cent after that, and that’s a cost of eight per cent of the whole holiday – after that you would be offered a refund and it can only apply to various cost increases they are facing.”

According to Which? A 14-night package holiday can cost between £1,500 and £2,000 per person – meaning you could be asked to pay an extra £160 – or £640 for a family of four.

Airports Council International, which represents more than 600 airports, wrote recently to European commissioners for energy and transport and tourism, claiming that if the crucial Strait of Hormuz in Iran does not reopen in a “significant and stable way within the next three weeks” then “systemic jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality for the EU”.

Some airlines such as Virgin Atlantic have imposed fuel surcharges on passengers in response to higher oil prices, and others such as KLM have cancelled flights amid concerns about a shortage of fuel.

Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club, said: “Consumers are bracing for an energy crunch, and there are fears that just like the credit crunch of 2007-2008, there could be a long tail of repercussions. In the immediate term, there’s the prospect of holiday plans being ruined by a jet fuel crisis which could see thousands of flights cancelled.

“Lufthansa has already scrapped a big chunk of routes, and there are worries tourist destinations could be hit.”

‘Unfortunately, it’s very likely that many people’s holidays will be affected, either by flight cancellations or very, very expensive tickets’

The EU has issued a warning that Europe faces a “very serious crisis” as aviation fuel supplies begin to dwindle due to the conflict in Iran, and holidaymakers may need to alter their summer travel plans.

“Unfortunately, it’s very likely that many people’s holidays will be affected, either by flight cancellations or very, very expensive tickets,” Dan Jorgensen, the EU energy commissioner, told Sky News. “Even if we do everything we can do, if the jet fuel is not there, then it’s not there.”

Jorgensen added: “[Currently] it is primarily a crisis of prices and not yet a crisis of supply, but unfortunately we cannot be sure to prevent a crisis of supply, especially on jet fuel in the future, if the crisis continues.”

The International Energy Agency has cautioned that significant supply problems could emerge within the next five to six weeks.

Airlines are already implementing measures to curb demand: the Lufthansa Group, among Europe’s largest airline operators, has confirmed the scrapping of 20,000 flights over the coming months. Meanwhile, other carriers are hiking ticket prices on long-distance routes to offset rising fuel costs.

“If we had peace tomorrow and the Strait of Hormuz opens, I think we will manage without that happening, but I have to say that even in the best-case scenario, the price crisis will still last for quite some time,” Jorgensen warned.

“Gas infrastructure has been ruined to a degree that will take years to rebuild and this means for months and maybe years yet we will see much higher prices than we had before this crisis started.”

The head of Italy’s Civil Aviation Authority told Sky News that people should consider spending their summer holidays in their home countries.

“In the past petrol prices have reached and exceeded more than $100 without any significant side effects on air travel but this time, the psychological effect is having a destructive effect on passengers,” Pierluigi di Palma warned. “It is best to recommend holidays nearby, rediscovering beautiful places in our country. “For those who still want to risk taking a long trip, it’s a good idea to consider special insurance that can provide reassurance regarding a guaranteed refund in the event of a delayed or cancelled flight.”

READ MORE: Spanish airport shuts for five weeks from tomorrow – Ryanair flights cancelledREAD MORE: EasyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, TUI send stark warning about summer holidays 2026

The EU has unveiled a raft of measures aimed at curbing the impact of the energy crisis, including proposals to accelerate the rollout of renewable energy sources and incentives for households to install clean energy solutions such as heat pumps and solar panels. The bloc is also pushing member states to slash tax on electricity, in a bid to encourage more motorists to make the switch to electric vehicles.

A group representing British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Loganair, Ryanair, TUI, UPS and Virgin Atlantic has given a stark warning to ministers about holidays this summer. According to ITV News, Airlines UK has told passengers, ‘you can forget your holidays’ according to Good Morning Host Susanna Reid.

The letter, which has gone to ministers and the Civil Aviation Authority, calls on the government and officials to change the rules to bring down passenger duty, allow more night flights, and also to scrap compensation for cancelled or delayed flights.

Presenter Susanna said: “You can forget about your summer holidays. That is the stark warning issued to some air passengers hoping to fly abroad this year. With the war in Iran doubling the price of jet fuel, airlines say they face having to increase fairs or cut flights altogether.”

Co host Ed Balls added: “UK operators are now calling on the government to bring in emergency measures. In a confidential letter seen by ITV News, they’re asking for help to protect fuel supplies, reduce taxes on tickets, and waive strict rules. on compensating passengers.”

ITV said airlines are urging the government to step in to protect business travel, holiday flights and freight operations from the economic fallout of the war in the Middle East. A confidential briefing document submitted to ministers and the aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, seen by ITV News, warns that if the disruption “continues or worsens,” airlines will be forced to cut flights and push up fares.

The document, from Airlines UK, which represents British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Loganair, Ryanair, TUI, UPS and Virgin Atlantic, warns that jet fuel costs have doubled, with fuel accounting for around a third of airline operating costs.

Correspondent Nick Dixon said: “Airlines are now at the stage where they are monitoring their reserves of jet fuel very carefully, very closely. There’s no indication just yet of any immediate cancelled flights or fuel shortages, but the airlines clearly need a backup plan in the longer term. And they are pushing for that. Now, some of the airlines have already taken steps. Lufthansa, the European airline, has cancelled thousands of its short-haul flights in an effort to conserve jet fuel. EasyJet, Virgin Airlines, as well as others, have expressed a lot of concern about the coming weeks.

“Virgin Atlantic has cancelled one of its long-haul routes. EasyJet has said, really, beyond the next few weeks into mid-May, they’re not entirely clear on what they will do for jet. Let’s just take a look at what the airlines are asking from the government in this letter that you mentioned.”

In terms of the changes the airlines want, he said: “So firstly, they want to relieve or reduce air passenger duty to help bring down the cost of travel generally and holidays during this period. Allow for nighttime flights to keep things moving if the schedules are disrupted, and also to scrap compensation for cancelled or delayed flights caused by fuel shortages. All of that, of course, would have a huge impact. on passengers.

“What most passengers want to know is, will my holiday flight be affected? It may well be that if the airlines win concessions from the government, we start to see some tactical flight cancellations of what would otherwise be loss-making departures. Well, the Department for Transport has said that it’s continuing to work with fuel suppliers, with airlines, and international counterparts on our contingency emergency planning to ensure that people keep moving and businesses are supported while the conflict is ongoing. But it’s all quite vague really at the moment and very concerning for passenger passengers who have either spent hundreds if not thousands on flights or are looking to plan uh trips throughout the summer.”

The German airline is one of the biggest in Europe

Lufthansa has issued a statement after energy bosses claimed Europe has six weeks’ supply of jet fuel left. Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), warned there could be flight cancellations ”soon” if oil supplies remain restricted by the Iran war.

When approached for comment, Lufthansa told the Mirror that it claims to be in a better position than most competitors regarding its kerosene requirements. A spokesperson for the airline said: “The Lufthansa Group has secured (‘hedged’) approximately 80 per cent of its kerosene requirements for 2026.

“And approximately 40 per cent for 2027 based, among other things, on the price of crude oil – both at pre-crisis price levels. With this level of hedging, we are in a better position than most competitors.”

It comes as the airline announced it will cut 20,000 short-haul flights from its schedule this summer to save money amid rising jet fuel costs. Most of these cuts are due to the shutdown of its unprofitable CityLine fleet and the retirement of its 27 planes. The airline pointed out that jet fuel prices have more than doubled and noted labour disputes involving its employees.

A statement on the Lufthansa Group website reads: “In total, 20,000 short-haul flights will be removed from the schedule through October, equivalent to approximately 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel, the price of which has doubled since the outbreak of the Iran conflict. The schedule adjustments reduce the number of unprofitable short-haul flights across the Lufthansa Group network.

“The planned consolidation of the European network is being carried out across Lufthansa Group’s six hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels, and Rome. Passengers will therefore continue to have access to the global route network, particularly long-haul connections. However, due to the increase in jet fuel prices, this will be achieved significantly more efficiently than before.”

On Tuesday, April 21, the Prime Minister discussed the Government’s work to ease pressures caused by the Iran conflict with ministers and officials at a meeting of the Middle East Response Committee. A government spokesperson said: “The discussion focused on the Government’s ongoing work to ease pressures being felt here in the UK.

“This included the diplomatic activity to promote progress on negotiations, and bring back security and stability for the region, and the military planning to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The Prime Minister acknowledged that the impact of the war in the Middle East will be felt beyond the end of the conflict, and stressed the importance of protecting British families.

“They discussed a range of ongoing contingency planning, such as our work with fuel suppliers, airlines and international counterparts, to ensure people keep moving and businesses are supported. UK airlines are clear that they are currently not seeing a shortage of jet fuel, and it is right that the Government continues to work with industry to ensure we closely monitor the situation.

“They said it was right that this Government is introducing wider measures to strengthen long-term resilience, including measures announced today to accelerate breaking the link between gas and electricity prices to support families and businesses under pressure and exposed to volatile gas prices.”

The global air travel crisis has spread further as Lufthansa and KLM became the latest airlines to announce flights axed to and from major destinations, including London Heathrow

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled by two major airlines amid warnings Europe has just a “few weeks” of jet fuel left.

Germany’s flag carrier airline Lufthansa is suspending its CityLine services from tomorrow, including flights to and from London, in response to rocketing kerosene costs and an ongoing trade union dispute. Netherlands’ KLM meanwhile confirmed it had cancelled 160 flights over the next month, as the industry grapples with an ‘unprecedented’ oil shock triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

It comes after the head of the world ’s energy watchdog has warned that Europe only has six weeks’ supply of jet fuel because of the Middle East conflict.

READ MORE: TUI update for passengers worried about risk of ‘fuel shortages’READ MORE: Jet2 issues Spain warning over four popular destinations

Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), warned there could be flight cancellations “soon” if oil supplies remain restricted by the war, with Iran and the US jostling for control for the vital Strait of Hormuz waterway.

Mr Birol said the conflict is causing “the largest energy crisis” the world has “ever faced”, with Asian nations such as Japan, India and China that rely on energy from the Middle East currently on “the front line”. But he warned that the impact would then “come to Europe and the Americas”, likely as soon as late May. Tourists are encouraged to continue to check before they travel.

Lufthansa’s CityLine services, which fly to a number of destinations across Europe including London, Paris, Frankfurt, Florence, Kraków, Stockholm and Copenhagen, will be cancelled from Saturday. Multiple daily services from Heathrow have already been pulled from the schedule.

A statement from Lufthansa last night said: “In view of significantly increased kerosene prices, which have more than doubled compared to the period before the Iran war, as well as rising additional burdens from labour disputes, the implementation of the corporate strategy is being partially accelerated.

“As a first, immediately effective step, starting the day after tomorrow, the 27 operational aircraft of Lufthansa Cityline will be permanently removed from the schedule to reduce further losses at the loss-making airline.”

Ongoing strikes by pilots and cabin crew belonging to German trade unions have already grounded approximately 90% of all Lufthansa Group flights on the worst days this week, with cancellations reported at Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Newcastle, and Glasgow.

KLM announced “a number of adjustments to its flight schedule for the coming month” on routes which are “no longer financially viable to operate”. The Dutch airline said this was due “rising kerosene costs”, adding: “There is no kerosene shortage.”

Meanwhile, schedule data published by AeroRoutes this week showed that Norse Airlines has cancelled bookings for its planned Los Angeles flights this summer from London Gatwick, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Rome Fiumicino.

Jet prices have more than doubled since the beginning of the Iran war on February 28, causing the largest wave of cancellations at many major international airports since the Covid pandemic.

Further strike action has been announced across one of Europe’s biggest airline groups, with Lufthansa flight cancellations expected to also impact British passengers

Fresh disruption is looming for British travellers as a new wave of pilot strikes hits one of Europe’s biggest airline groups.

Holiday plans have already been thrown into chaos this week after a two-day walkout at Lufthansa forced hundreds of cancellations across Europe, with several UK airports caught in the fallout.

Now, the pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) has confirmed further strike action across the airline and its subsidiaries – including Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa CityLine and Eurowings.

The walkout is due to begin at 12:01am on April 16 and run until 11:59pm on April 17, with departures from German airports set to bear the brunt – routes to the UK look set to be hit.

The union said flights to several Middle Eastern countries would be exempt due to ongoing tensions in the region, including routes to Egypt, Israel and the UAE.

The message read: “Due to the current situation in the Middle East, flights operated by Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Lufthansa CityLine from Germany to the following destinations remain exempt from the strike: Azerbaijan, Egypt, Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Yemen, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates”.

Union president Andreas Pinheiro warned the dispute had come to a standstill. “The situation is deadlocked,” he said, adding there has been “absolutely no movement” from employers on pensions or pay agreements across the group’s airlines.

“Neither Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo have made an offer regarding company pension schemes, nor has Lufthansa CityLine made a viable offer for a new collective bargaining agreement on remuneration, nor has Eurowings made any offer regarding company pension schemes,” Pinheiro said. “We are not concerned with power struggles or egoism, but with sustainable solutions”.

A message on the VC’s website read: “Should the employers accept the mediation proposal, the Cockpit Association will promptly submit suggestions for a suitable mediator.”

The row has seen more than 1,000 flights cancelled so far, with more than 4,500 UK passengers caught up in the disruption.

Multiple flights travelling to Frankfurt or Munich from London Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, and Edinburgh were scrapped today. Lufthansa said only around one-third of their short-haul schedule will be running as normal, while half of its long-haul flights will be cancelled.

Eurowings – which has seen 570 flight cancellations at Frankfurt Airport affecting more than 50,000 travellers – will operate 60 per cent of its schedule.

The strike has seen around 720 flight cancellations at Munich Airport over the last two days.

Some airlines have smaller seats than others

You’re embarking on your dream getaway, sailing through security and preparing to settle into your aeroplane seat when you spot it: a minuscule middle seat you’ll need to squeeze into for the entirety of your journey.

Fortunately, there’s now a method to determine which budget carrier offers the most spacious seats, sparing you from compromising your precious comfort.

Which? has worked out which airlines boast the largest seats, enabling you to ensure you’re getting maximum value for money.

Regarding short haul journeys, the seat width (the gap between each armrest) ranges from 17 to 18 inches, which might not seem substantial.

Yet, that additional inch can prove transformative when you’re packed in like sardines.

The carriers offering the most generous economy seats are Wizz Air, TAP Portugal, easyJet and Lufthansa, all measuring 18 inches across.

This means the airlines with the narrowest seat widths are British Airways, Jet2, KLM, Norwegian, Ryanair, Tui and Aer Lingus, all matching at 17 inches.

Meanwhile, Vueling sits in between with 17.5 inches.

Airlines seat width and legroom

Below are airline seat width and legroom in inches.

If you’re keen to secure additional space on your budget flight without parting with extra cash, there are several tricks you can employ.

The first involves booking a seat in the bulkhead – those positioned directly behind the walls, curtains or screens which divide the aircraft. With no seats ahead, you’ll have the freedom to fully extend your legs. However, these may be marginally narrower if tray tables are housed in the armrest.

If a bulkhead doesn’t appeal to you, select a seat towards the back of the aircraft where they narrow.

This can occasionally mean fewer seats per row – but naturally, you might find yourself beside the toilet queue which can prove somewhat disruptive.

If you’re on a flight which has already departed and you spot additional empty seats, you can always courteously ask the cabin crew if it would be feasible to relocate.

Bear in mind, if you don’t ask, you don’t get – and provided you’re polite there’s a possibility they’ll accommodate your request.

If you have particular requirements that would benefit from additional space, such as being tall or pregnant, you’ve got a reasonable chance of being relocated to a more spacious area.

The new seat will be installed from 2028 on hundreds of easyJet’s new aircraft, providing an extra two inches of improved knee and shin clearance

As budget airlines attempt to cram more and more passengers onto flights, it can feel as if the seat in front edges slightly closer each time you board a plane.

However, a “next generation” economy seat is on the horizon, which its creators claim will provide travellers with additional legroom without compromising space for airlines.

The Kestrel seat from Mirus Aircraft Seating, a British manufacturer, will be fitted from 2028 on hundreds of easyJet’s new aircraft, delivering an extra two inches of “improved knee and shin clearance” for passengers. It will enable easyJet to provide more legroom than most of its short-haul budget rivals.

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The seat reshapes a passenger’s back, enabling their hips and spine to sit further back on the cushion so their knees and legs gain additional space at the front.

The back is constructed from carbon fibre rather than the traditional moulded plastic, producing a slimmer seat that provides crucial extra inches for the person behind.

A “fixed recline” of 22 degrees naturally shifts the passenger to the most efficient position in the seat, Mirus claims. Customers cannot manually recline the seat to annoy the passenger behind them.

A standard easyJet seat typically provides between 28 and 29 inches of room, meaning anyone who is six foot or taller will touch the seat in front with their knees. Some airlines on longer haul economy flights offer up to 34 inches of space.

“We’ve always had very comfortable leg room in easyJet,” said Kenton Jarvis, the airline’s chief executive. “This product is exceptionally comfortable, exceptionally light and allows a configuration that creates more space for the customer in the cabin.”

He explained easyJet wouldn’t be retrofitting any of its estimated 350 aircraft, stating: “There’s an expense to ripping off perfectly good seats and putting in and buying new ones.” The seats will instead appear in new orders of the Airbus A320neo and A321neo from 2028.

Research conducted this year by consumer group Which identified the short-haul carriers offering the tightest economy-class seat layout, or pitch, as Jet2, KLM, Lufthansa, Ryanair, SAS, TAP Air Portugal, Vueling and Wizz Air. All featured at least some seats with a 28-inch pitch.

The group noted that seat comfort also hinged on quality factors such as padding. By that measure, easyJet’s current seats achieved two out of five.

David Morgan, easyJet’s chief operating officer, commented: “We are delighted to be introducing the Mirus Kestrel seat across our future fleet.

“On top of the sustainability benefits, the additional legroom and enhanced comfort these seats will provide will also deliver an improved onboard experience for our customers, which we know they’ll love.”

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Many airlines are operating restricted schedules due to airspace restrictions in the Middle East, with 21,915 of the 38,193 services scheduled to fly since February 28 cancelled

Dozens of flights to and from the UK have been cancelled today as the war in Iran continues.

Many airlines are operating restricted schedules due to airspace restrictions in the Middle East, with 21,915 of the 38,193 services scheduled to fly since February 28 cancelled.

On Wednesday morning, Dubai International Airport was forced to temporarily pause operations due to a drone strike nearby, which wounded four people. Authorities have confirmed that flights have since continued.

Emirates and Etihad are still operating limited schedules from Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports, respectively. Qatar Airways said it is “doing everything possible to support affected passengers and help reunite them with family and loved ones” while Qatari airspace remains closed.

The airline said that operations will resume“ once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority confirms the safe reopening of Qatari airspace.”

Yesterday, British Airways announced that it has suspended all flights to and from Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, and Tel Aviv until later this month, while its services to and from Abu Dhabi are cancelled until later this year. The decision means hundreds of BA services will be cancelled over the coming months.

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Flight data shared exclusively with the Mirror by analytics firm Cirium shows that 55 of the planned services due to fly today had been cancelled as of 12.45 pm, which is 2.49% of the total scheduled to fly into the UK from the Middle East and vice versa.

UK flights cancelled on March 11

Arrival Country: Flights; Cancelled; Cancel %

• Qatar: 18; 17; 94.44%
• United Kingdom: 493; 15; 3.04%
• United Arab Emirates: 32; 11; 34.38%
• Bahrain: 3; 3; 100.00%
• United States: 113; 2; 1.77%
• Jordan: 3; 1; 33.33%
• Israel: 7; 1; 14.29%
• Germany: 116; 1; 0.86%
• Denmark: 29; 1; 3.45%
• Cyprus: 20; 1; 5.00%
• Uganda: 1; 1; 100.00%
• Ireland: 121; 1; 0.83%

If you are due to fly from or to the Middle East in the coming days, make sure you check your airline’s website for instructions and the Foreign Office website for the latest advice.

What have the airlines said?

• Aegean Airlines – Greece’s largest carrier cancelled flights to Tel Aviv until March 20; Beirut, Erbil and Baghdad until March 25; Dubai and Abu Dhabi until March 19; and Riyadh until March 14.

• Air France–KLM – Air France cancelled flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut through March 13, and to Dubai and Riyadh until March 12. KLM suspended flights to Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam until March 10, and to Tel Aviv for the rest of the winter season.
• Cathay Pacific – Cancelled all flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh until March 31.
• Delta – Cancelled flights from New York to Tel Aviv until March 22 and from Tel Aviv to New York until March 23.
• Emirates – Operating a reduced flight schedule but expects to return to full operations within days, depending on airspace availability and operational requirements.
• Etihad Airways – Resumed a limited commercial flight schedule between Abu Dhabi and several key destinations.
• Iberia Express cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv through March 10.
• Lufthansa Group – Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swiss and Brussels Airlines suspended Tel Aviv flights through April 2 and Beirut flights through March 28. Flights to Tehran are suspended until April 30, and to Amman, Erbil, Dammam, Dubai and Abu Dhabi until March 15.
• Norwegian Air – Now plans to start flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut on June 15, instead of the previously scheduled April 1 and April 4.
• Qatar Airways – Operating a limited schedule to and from Doha, with some flights resuming from March 9 following temporary authorisation from Qatar’s civil aviation authority.
• Saudia Airlines – Suspended flights to Amman, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Bahrain until March 10, and to Moscow and Peshawar until March 15. Limited operations to Dubai have resumed.
• Wizz Air – Suspended flights to Israel until March 29, and flights from mainland Europe to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman and Jeddah until mid-September.