Worries have emerged over potential rule changes that could spell the end of a '14-day rule' this summer, with flights being altered or scrapped at short notice. The Department for Transport has revealed it is consulting on sweeping changes to holidays amidst uncertainty surrounding jet fuel supplies as the Middle East crisis drags on with no resolution in sight.

With widespread expectations that severe pressure on jet fuel will trigger travel chaos this summer, the Government confirmed over the weekend that airlines will be permitted to merge passengers from separate flights onto fewer aircraft. This means travellers could find themselves switched to a different flight at the eleventh hour.

The DfT maintains it will help reduce the prospect of last-minute flight cancellations this summer should significant disruption occur due to continuing global instability stemming from the Middle East conflict. It allows operators including Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2, British Airways, Wizz Air UK and TUI to combine flights on routes where multiple services run to the same destination on the same day.

Yet consumer experts warned that currently, passengers benefit from a 14-day rule, and it's 'not fair' for travellers to be moved at the last minute to accommodate airlines without compensation. Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel said: "Millions of Britons will have already booked their flights for this summer, often paying over the odds for flights at peak times.

"Existing rules already allow airlines to move customers to new flights so long as they give them more than 14 days' notice and offer the choice between a new flight or a refund. It's only for cancellations within 14 days that compensation is payable, rightly.

"It's not fair for the rules to now be bent in favour of airlines and potentially leave passengers holding the bill. Many passengers will understand that disruptions can occur and may be happy to travel a few hours or a day later, but for those on short trips or connecting flights it could mean the trip is no longer worthwhile."

"Before any changes are made, passengers need cast-iron assurances that their rights will not be weakened and that airlines cannot use reform as cover to shift the cost of disruption onto travellers."

The Conservatives claim it could result in passengers being "herded on to a different plane, at a time of the airline's choosing". However, the DfT maintains that the measure aims to provide passengers with "greater confidence" by enabling airlines to finalise their schedules sooner.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated: "There are no immediate supply issues, but we're preparing now to give families long-term certainty and avoid unnecessary disruption at the departure gate this summer.

"This legislation will give airlines the tools to adjust flights in good time if they need to, which helps protect passengers and businesses."

The Department for Transport indicated the measures would:

• help move passengers onto similar services much earlier, helping avoid stressful delays at the airport


• prevent running flights which have not sold a significant proportion of tickets


• reduce wasted fuel from flying near-empty planes

Should your flight be cancelled by the carrier, you possess a legal entitlement to choose between being rerouted or receiving a refund. When a flight experiences substantial delay - a minimum of 2 hours for short-haul, 3 hours for medium-haul and 4 hours for long-haul - travellers are entitled to care and assistance, encompassing food, drink and overnight accommodation when required.

Rob Bishton, Chief Executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: "Passengers in the UK are well protected by some of the strongest rights in the world, offering reassurance if disruption does occur.

"Airlines have a duty to look after their passengers when they face disruption, and should offer a choice between a refund or alternative travel arrangements, including with another airline, if a flight is cancelled.

"Relaxing the rules around slots at airports will allow airlines more flexibility and so we expect them to give passengers as much notice as possible of cancellations during this period."

Should airlines notify passengers of alterations to their flights, travellers are recommended to contact their airline, travel agent or tour operator initially.