Airlines cut 13,000 flights in May as jet fuel prices soar

Airlines have cut 13,000 flights globally in May as jet fuel prices soar due to the conflict in the Middle East.

Airlines have removed nearly two million seats from flights over the month, which could potentially affect people's trips over the UK half-term holidays, which fall at the end of May.

Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows that Istanbul and Munich have seen the largest cuts to flights.

Airlines are usually reluctant to cancel flights as it can cost them valuable take-off and landing slots in airports, but under new contingency plans in the UK they would be shielded from this.

Jet fuel prices have more than doubled since the beginning of the war — one tonne was trading at $831 in late February, and by early April, it hit $1,838.

Many airlines have already pushed up ticket prices. Air France, KLM, Air Canada, Delta and SAS have already trimmed their summer schedules.

The German group Lufthansa said earlier this month it would remove 20,000 flights between now and the end of October.

In mid-April, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), which advises 32 member governments on energy supply and security, warned that Europe had "maybe six weeks of jet fuel left".

In the UK, the government is preparing a number of concessions. These include allowing airlines to cancel flights at busy airports like Heathrow well in advance, without the risk of losing valuable take-off and landing slots.

At the weekend, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was confident most people travelling this summer would have a similar experience to last year.