Daily Star request: What will the impact of fuel shortages be at airports this summer?

Gatwick is not so much running on fumes as suffering a nasty plumbing problem in the airport’s fuel system. The fix is fairly old-fashioned- get engineers on the fuel farm, ask airlines to bring in as much fuel as safely possible from other airports, and protect the flights that need it most. Long-haul is where the wheels can come off first, because a jet to Florida or Dubai cannot be treated like a quick hop to Malaga. This does not look primarily driven by high oil prices, though expensive fuel makes everything feel more painful. Holidaymakers should not start camping outside the terminal in a panic, but they should check their flight before leaving home, keep airline alerts on and avoid heroic tight connections. If the fault is fixed quickly, this may be a wobble. If it drags on, delays and cancellations can spread like sunburn.

The fuel supply issue at Gatwick stems from a localised technical fault at an on-site fuel farm, not a national shortage so no9 need to panic, and nothing to do with oil prices. Industry bodies have confirmed UK jet fuel supplies remain stable. To manage the immediate risk, Gatwick has told airlines to "tanker" extra fuel in from origin airports, cutting how much refuelling needs to happen on-site. Engineers are targeting a 48-hour window to restore full capacity but expect some knock-on delays as schedules absorb the disruption. If you're flying from Gatwick this month, there's no need to cancel anything as mass cancellations aren't on the cards. Check your flight status online, turn up at the normal time, and know your rights: UK261 still covers food and care during major delays. Long-haul routes will feel this the most as carrying extra fuel eats into weight allowances, which can squeeze baggage capacity.

The 'running out of fuel' headline sounds alarming, but this is a logistics problem rather than an energy crisis. A technical fault at one of Gatwick's fuel farms has disrupted fuel distribution around the airport, not fuel supplies to the UK. Airlines have contingency plans, including taking on extra fuel at other airports, so most passengers may see little impact if the issue is resolved quickly. Long haul flights are the most exposed, while short haul travellers are less likely to notice. The airport has indicated the disruption should last days, not weeks. If you're flying this week, check with your airline and avoid booking tight onward connections - but don't cancel your holiday over it.

The headline sounds terrifying, but holidaymakers should not start cancelling trips. Gatwick says flights are operating normally and the immediate problem appears to be a technical fault affecting a fuel facility, not a nationwide shortage caused by high oil prices.

The pressure will fall first on long-haul flights, which cannot simply carry enough extra fuel from another airport without hitting weight limits. Airlines may “tanker” fuel in, delay departures, reduce cargo or, in a prolonged shortage, make extra fuel stops or cancel flights.

The warning reportedly covered two days, but there is no firm public end-time, so passengers should check their airline app before leaving, keep travel insurance details handy and avoid making expensive alternative arrangements unless their carrier confirms disruption. The solution is technical repair plus airlines bringing in extra fuel. High oil prices are a separate global problem, but they make every workaround more expensive.