TravelTravel NewsAviationSurging jet fuel and diesel prices have come off the back of the conflict in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has choked roughly 20 per cent of the global oil supplyMilo Boyd Deputy Travel Editor & Commercial Writer12:39, 20 May 2026Major airlines have grounded flights this summer as the jet fuel crisis continues to rumble on.‌In a bid to boost supplies, Keir Starmer will allow Russian imports of diesel and jet fuel in a major softening of what has been a hardline stance towards Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. A licence issued on Wednesday will allow such products to enter the UK “indefinitely”, as long as the oil has been refined in other countries.‌The decision comes amid surging jet fuel and diesel prices off the back of the conflict in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has choked roughly 20 per cent of the global oil supply.‌The good news is that Europe is now considered unlikely to face a jet fuel supply crisis and major flight disruptions in the coming weeks. A ramping up of production by the US and Spain has seen jet fuel prices fall, from a high of over £150 a barrel - more than double the prewar price - to around £120.Despite the promising signs, a number of airlines have already cancelled flights that were due to depart over the coming months.‌Do you have a story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.comREAD MORE: Thailand makes visiting harder in attempt to stop 'low quality' tourists comingREAD MORE: Not Blackpool or Brighton - the UK's best seaside town has been crownedWhich airlines are cancelling flights?A number of airlines have warned that they might have to cancel flights if the situation continues, but the number of those that have already done so is fewer.Article continues belowSpirit Airlines — Ths month, the US budget carrier permanently ceased operations in a move widely attributed to soaring fuel costs, reports Al Jazeera. The end of Spriit has seen thousands of flights cut, in a move that has made flying in the US trickier and more expensive. "We apologize most specifically for those Americans who may now be priced entirely out," Spirit lawyer Marshall Huebner stated in court this week.Lufthansa — The German flag carrier cut 20,000 short-haul flights through to October and said it was focused on routes from Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels, and Rome, in order to save 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel for long-haul connections, Newsweek reports.Qatar Airways — The Middle Eastern airline has slashed two million seats scheduled for June through October. It is not clear how many of these are directly attributed to the cost of jet fuel, as opposed to security concerns caused by the US and Israel attacks on Iran.Emirates & Etihad — Both UAE-based carriers have made significant reductions, with aviation in the Middle East still reeling from airspace closures following Iranian attacks on regional hubs like Dubai and Doha.United Airlines — Unitedannounced a 5% capacity reduction for 2026, cancelling some flights in off-peak periods including redeye flights and flights on specific non-peak days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday).SAS — The Swedish flag carrier cancelled 1,000 flights in April, reported Newsweek at the time.Turkish Airlines - Turkish Airlines suspended flights to 18 international destinations from May. This measure affects flights connecting Istanbul (IST) to Billund (BLL), Ferghana (FEG), Freetown (FNA), Hurghada (HRG), Kinshasa (FIH), Leipzig/Halle (LEJ), Libreville (LBV), Luanda (LAD), Lusaka (LUN), Najaf (NJF), Pointe Noire (PNR), and Turkistan (HSA).AirAsia X - The Malaysian airline decided to cut 10% of flights across the group, with a surcharge of about 20% on fuel in general.Air New Zealand - At the beginning of April Air New Zealand announced that it would slash flights through May and June and hike fares.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌RyanairDeutsche Lufthansa AGBritish AirwaysMiddle EastVietnam AirlinesHeathrow AirportUnited AirlinesCathay PacificAir New Zealand Inc.Aviation