Britons to face more misery as another airline cancels hundreds of flights for 'maintenance' amid jet fuel crisis

Britons are set to face more travel disruptions after another major airline has cancelled hundreds of flights amid the jet fuel crisis.

Aer Lingus has said it is slashing over 500 flights from its schedule in the coming weeks for 'mandatory maintenance' on aircraft.

However, the disruptions come against the backdrop of a growing crisis in the aviation industry over the cost and availability of jet fuel.

The airline is set to axe several scheduled transatlantic flights, including services to and from Seattle, San Francisco, Minneapolis-St Paul and Toronto, according to internal documents seen by the Irish Independent.

As per the internal information, flights to London Heathrow, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham and Edinburgh will also be cancelled, with passengers rebooked onto alternative services. 

Departures from Dublin to a number of European airports, such as Berlin, Zurich, Athens, Faro and Amsterdam, are also to be cut from the current schedule.

Flights to around 30 destinations will also be affected on certain dates from this week until mid-October, but these have not been cancelled. 

An Aer Lingus spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'Aer Lingus has commenced operating its planned summer schedule. 

'A number of recent cancellations have been required due to mandatory maintenance on aircraft, along with a limited number of schedule adjustments. 

'Schedule changes apply to approximately 2 per cent of Aer Lingus’ overall schedule. 

'Where schedule adjustments are being made, the vast majority of customers are being reaccommodated on same-day services.'

The move from the Irish carrier follows mounting concerns surrounding Europe's jet fuel supply. 

International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol described it as 'the largest energy crisis we have ever faced' arising from the disruption of oil, gas and other essential supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.

'In the past, there was a group called "Dire Straits". It's a dire strait now, and it is going to have major implications for the global economy,' he said.

'And the longer it goes, the worse it will be for the economic growth and inflation around the world.'

The consequences will mean 'higher petrol (gasoline) prices, higher gas prices, high electricity prices', he added.

If the Strait of Hormuz isn't reopened, he continued: 'I can tell you soon we will hear the news that some of the flights from city A to city B might be cancelled as a result of a lack of jet fuel.'

Just weeks ago, Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary warned that flights could be cancelled this summer due to the soaring cost of jet fuel.

He told ITV News: 'We're all facing an unknown scenario. And we are certainly looking at maybe having to cancel 5 per cent, 10 per cent of flights through May, June and July.' 

Should passengers find their flight cancelled, O'Leary suggested they should 'blame Trump' rather than the airline.

It comes after German carrier Lufthansa said on Friday that a regional subsidiary, Lufthansa CityLine, will suspend operations from Saturday due to high kerosene prices and labour disputes.

And Dutch airline KLM has cancelled 160 flights across the next month as a result of rising fuel costs.

Seven other airlines have announced cuts to flights so far. They are British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand and Norse Atlantic Airways.

Airlines UK, which represents major carriers such as British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair, said: 'We are talking to the Government about crucial measures that will be needed to support aviation in the event of fuel disruption.'

It added that there was 'currently' no disruption to jet fuel supplies.

A government spokesman said: 'We continue to engage with British airlines to support their operations against the backdrop of war in the Middle East, and to limit the impact on passengers.'

It also emerged on Thursday that air ambulances would be prioritised under 'worst case scenario' planning for jet fuel shortages.

According to sources familiar with shortages planning, if our supplies were to completely dry up, emergency services craft – including air ambulances and lifeguard and police helicopters – would be prioritised for receiving the fuel.