Major airline cancels flights from May 18 – urgent warning issued to passengers

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled by a major airline due to the rising costs of fuel. Australian airline Qantas is planning to cut flights from May 18 due to the rising prices of jet fuel linked to the war in Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

The airline is planning to cut 88 flights from its Melbourne to Sydney service, 50 flights from the Sydney to Brisbane line, and 31 flights from Brisbane to Melbourne.

Flights from Perth to Sydney will also be affected, as well as those from Melbourne to Adelaide, and Brisbane to Adelaide. Disruption is likely to last until June. In a statement, Qantas said: “Given the continued volatility in fuel prices and the global economic conditions, (Qantas Group) has reduced domestic capacity in (the fourth quarter of the 2026 financial year) by around 5 percentage points,’ a statement on Tuesday said.

“Affected Qantas and Jetstar customers are being contacted directly and offered alternative flights or a refund.”

Virgin also said its seasonal flights between Darwin and Sydney will be cut starting from June, and flights from Uluru to Melbourne will also be affected.

In the UK, airlines are reportedly asking for the government’s help to avoid making cuts to their flights and increasing their fares due to tensions in the Middle East and the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Airlines UK, which represents a number of carriers, including British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Loganair, Ryanair, UPS and Virgin Atlantic, said “the doubling of jet fuel costs (with fuel accounting for around one-third of airline costs) represents a major additional price shock”, it has been reported.

The document, seen by ITV News, was submitted to ministers and the regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), warning that if the disruption “continues or worsens”, it will force airlines to cut flights and push up fares.

The average fuel cost per passenger has already risen by roughly €29 (£25) per passenger for flights within the EU, according to the latest analysis.

A Government spokesperson said: “UK airlines are clear that they are currently not seeing a shortage of jet fuel.

“We continue to work with fuel suppliers, airlines and international counterparts on our contingency planning, to ensure people keep moving and businesses are supported while the conflict is ongoing.

“Our overriding priority is to de-escalate this conflict, open up the Strait and prevent disruption to passengers.”