A trade association for the travel industry has spoken out about the potential impact of the fuel crisis ahead of May half-term when thousands of families are due to jet off on holiday
May half-term is a busy time for travel(Image: MEN MEDIA)
A trade association for UK travel agents, tour operators and the wider travel industry has issued a statement amid speculation around fuel supplies and potential cancellations.
May half-term is just two weeks away, and after the summer holidays and Christmas, this is one of the busiest weeks for airports as families take the opportunity to finally get some sunshine.
But many people with holidays booked are finding themselves facing uncertainty as reports of jet fuel shortages circulate. While some airlines have provided reassurance to customers, others have stayed silent about the potential impact.
Now, ABTA, which represents over 3,500 tour operators and travel agents across the UK, has issued a statement for Brits planning to jet off for the school holidays and in the next few months.
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Mark Tanzer, chief executive of ABTA, said: “We really don’t want people worrying about their holidays; planes are taking off daily and people are continuing to get away on their holidays.
“The Government and airlines are clear that there isn’t a problem with fuel supply. If you have a holiday booked in for the coming months – including the May half term – we expect it to go ahead as planned.
“Whilst there have been reports about cancellations globally, these amount to less than one percent of overall flights.”
ABTA has also put together a page about jet fuel prices and availability, where holidaymakers can get the latest news and information.
Its website states: “While holidays are going ahead as planned, you may find it reassuring to know that, in the unlikely event a flight is cancelled – for whatever reason – there are lots of protections in place for UK travellers. This means you shouldn’t lose out on the money you paid for your flight, and if it’s a package holiday, that extends to the full cost of the package.”
ABTA’s website also reiterated: “Wherever you are travelling and whatever the circumstances, we always recommend taking out travel insurance. Policies vary, so you should check yours carefully to make sure you know what is covered.”
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Some airlines have also recently made statements in order to reassure customers who are booked with them. In a statement, Garry Wilson, CEO of easyJet holidays, said: “Our operations remain unaffected, so customers can be confident that not only will their holiday go ahead as planned, but there will be no surprise extra payments”.
While Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary told Reuters: “We think the risk of a supply disruption is receding,” adding: “A month ago we were saying we’re all fine until the end of May. The fuel companies are now saying they’re seeing no supply disruption risk until the end of June.” However, he did point out that Britain could be one of the most severely impacted markets in the event of a fuel crisis due to the amount of oil it imports from Kuwait.
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