We need to talk… about jet fuel.

I can only liken the situation to when we were told we were going to run out of toilet roll during Covid. We all went bonkers buying toilet roll, stacked cupboards full of it, and supermarket shelves were emptied.

We never ran out of toilet roll - there was no shortage.

It happened again when the Ukraine war started. We were told we were going to run out of petrol, so everyone rushed to fill their cars to the brim and queued along the high street at the nearest petrol station.

We never ran out of petrol - there was no shortage.

The UK is not running out of jet fuel - there is no shortage.

The UK sources jet fuel from a range of places; it does not come from one single source, and fuel purchasing is not managed on a week-by-week basis. Jet fuel is typically secured months in advance, with prices agreed ahead of time.

Yes, there have been some disruptions, but on the grand scale of the aviation industry they are minimal. In reality, most travellers would not even notice that any operational changes have been made.

Older aircraft with four engines naturally use more fuel to fly, so some airlines have temporarily reduced services using older aircraft and moved passengers onto newer, more efficient two-engine aircraft instead. It reduces fuel consumption, lowers costs and cuts pollution - it’s a no-brainer.

For example, Air Canada operates 38 flights a day to New York. They have cancelled four flights a day until August, with those services returning in October. The remaining 34 flights continue to operate daily as normal.

• Air France has increased the cost of a long-haul ticket by around £21 per person.

• American Airlines and Delta have increased hold luggage charges by approximately £7.80.

These changes are incredibly small and do not affect your hard-earned, well-deserved summer holiday plans.

Our favourite UK operators, including Jet2, EasyJet and TUI, have all confirmed they will not increase the cost of your holiday after booking - that is guaranteed. Holidays are continuing exactly as normal. Flights are taking off, people are travelling, and clients are returning home safely having enjoyed fantastic holidays.

The sun is shining, the bar is open and the beaches are waiting for you.

What we have seen is a shift in holiday habits due to unrest in the Middle East and UK Government advice surrounding travel to the UAE. With Stansted Airport so close to us, Emirates flights to Dubai have become hugely popular over recent years - not just for Dubai holidays themselves, but as a hub for destinations such as Australia, Thailand, Bali and the Indian Ocean.

Understandably, some clients are now choosing to fly directly to their onward destination rather than route through Dubai. Others are still travelling via Dubai as planned, with flights operating normally and service remaining as good as ever. Our clients have travelled and returned without issue.

Personally, I do expect prices to rise ever so slightly towards the end of this year and into 2027 as airlines slowly claw back increased fuel costs. In reality, though, you probably won’t notice much difference as travel prices naturally rise year on year anyway.

The smartest thing you can do right now is simply book early.

Summer 2027 is already on sale, deposits remain very low, and many holidays can still be secured from as little as £60 per person. Once booked, your price is locked in with no surprise additional costs later on.

The same applies for this year’s holidays too - book now while prices remain lower, free child places are still available, seats together on the aircraft can still be secured, and those best sea-view rooms are still there waiting.

I do expect demand to increase quickly once tensions in the Middle East settle, and when that happens prices and availability are likely to shift very fast.

While holidays are continuing as planned, it is also reassuring to remember that, in the extremely unlikely event a flight is cancelled for any reason, there are strong protections in place for UK travellers. That means you will not lose the money paid for your flights and, if travelling on a package holiday, those protections extend to the full holiday package too.

I hope this has helped put a little perspective on the situation.

And if you are currently toying with the idea of booking a holiday, just think back to how many toilet rolls you bought…

Don’t let headlines make the decision for you.

I regard my whole team at Flitch Travel as experts. We never have, and never will, let our clients down.

If you would like advice or reassurance, please contact either of our branches:

Dunmow - 01371 875757

Ongar - 01277 886968