The dispute in the Middle East between the US, Israel, and Iran has caused major disruptions to jet fuel supplies recently.

As a result, jet fuel prices have surged, with fears of shortages continuing to grow.

Major airlines around the world have already responded to rising jet fuel prices by increasing fares and cutting flights.

Lufthansa, for example, announced in April it would cancel 20,000 flights over the following six months to save fuel.

Meanwhile, more than 120 flights from the UK have already been cancelled for May, according to new figures from Aviation analytics company Cirium.

“Risk of some disruption” to flights this summer

Despite all these cancellations, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, speaking on Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips recently, said there would be limited disruptions to upcoming summer holidays.

📢 Coming up on Sunday Morning with @TrevorPTweets …

🔵 Transport Secretary @Heidi_Labour
🔵 Green Party leader @ZackPolanski
🔵 SNP Westminster leader @StephenFlynnSNP
🔵 Tory peer Lord Hayward

🕣 Sunday 8:30am
📱 https://t.co/ofq10rQCZi
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602 & Freeview 233 pic.twitter.com/56oE9nZkwn

— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 3, 2026

Ms Alexander explained: “I’ve spent every week of the last two months in close contact with airlines and airports.

“On Thursday of this week, airlines told me very clearly that they have good visibility over the next six to eight weeks of jet fuel supply.

“There is no current disruption to jet fuel supplies.

She continued: “The last thing I want is for people to turn up at a departure gate and have last-minute cancellations.

“I am confident, sat here today on the basis of the information that I have available to me, that the majority of people who are travelling this summer will have a similar experience to that which they had last year.”

The Government has also introduced a temporary rule change allowing airlines to group passengers from different flights together onto fewer planes to save fuel.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has also issued an update saying there is “a risk of some disruption” to travel this summer due to the situation in the Middle East, but reassured travellers they would be “well protected”.

Did you know that if you arrive over 3 hours late at your destination, and it’s the airline’s fault, you could claim up to £520 per person.

Always remember to contact your airline in the first instance.

Know your rights before you travel: https://t.co/TG4Uyf7Ytb pic.twitter.com/bWsnkKp4RD

— UK Civil Aviation Authority (@UK_CAA) May 2, 2026

The CAA said: “As the summer travel season approaches, airlines, government and industry partners are working closely to support smooth journeys.

“While there is a risk of some disruption as a result of the situation in the Middle East, travellers in the UK are well protected by some of the strongest passenger rights in the world, offering reassurance if disruption does occur.”

Virgin Atlantic temporarily suspends flights from the UK to 2 holiday hotspots

Amid all the travel chaos caused by the conflict in the Middle East, Virgin Atlantic has released its winter 2026 schedule update.

The airline has “significantly” increased its capacity to South Africa for the upcoming winter season.

But Virgin Atlantic has also made the “difficult decision” to temporarily suspend all seasonal services to Dubai and Seattle for winter 2026.

These services will resume in March 2027.

In the meantime, those hoping to travel to Seattle can fly with Virgin Atlantic’s partner Delta Air Lines, which offers daily services from London Heathrow.

In a statement on its website, Virgin Atlantic said: “Unfortunately, we have taken the difficult decision to temporarily suspend our seasonal service to Dubai for the winter 2026 season, while services to Seattle will be temporarily suspended for the Winter 2026 season only, before resuming in March 2027.

The airline continued: “Our schedule and any affected bookings will be updated in the GDSs on Saturday 09 May 2026.

“We’re very sorry for the disappointment caused to our customers.”

Do these changes to Virgin Atlantic’s winter services affect your travel plans? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.

Steven Gidwaney appeared in the drama as Simo and returned to the ITV show for a second short stint last month.

He had previously appeared throughout the latter half of 2025.

Simo was one of many people that Ray and Celia were using as illegal workers on their farm as part of the modern slavery plot.

He lived in the attic with the other workers, which included fellow resident, Bear Wolf.

Steven reappeared last month and played a major part in this week’s trial against Bear, Paddy and Dylan.

Originally agreeing to back up the trio, he went against his word and suggested that, as Bear had special privileges, he was in on the horror that Ray and Celia subjected the workers to.

Taking to social media, he revealed he had left the show and paid tribute to his co-stars, including Dominic Brunt who plays Paddy.

He wrote: “Well what can I say…AGAIN! To be asked to be part of this storyline and to play Simon ‘Simo’ Clarke was a HUGE honour. To be invited back was a MASSIVE privilege!

“Firstly, thank you to Jordan Hale Audere Talent Management for getting me this wonderful opportunity in the first place! MASSIVE thank you to Faye Styring, Ezra Tren Humphries and the Emmerdale storyline team for bringing Simo back!

“HUGE thank you to Simon Ferguson and Matt Hilton, the 2 fabulous directors I had the pleasure of working with. I worked with Matt on my first ever TV job so it was really nice to work with him again!

“BIG thanks to Joshua Richards, Dominic Brunt, Fred Kettle and Andrew Scarborough. I’m so happy I got the share the screen with all of you, a true pleasure!”

She’s only been in it a week and she’s already a scene stealing diva x #Emmerdale pic.twitter.com/P3oUUpsyfB

— TellyAddict (@TVAddict2K26) April 28, 2026

He then went on to tease that fans may not have seen the last of “Simo” as he hinted at a potential return in the future.

He added: “ That’s Simon ‘Simo’ Clarke over and out, for now, who knows, maybe we’ll see him again…”

Steven’s co-stars were quick to praise him for his performance as part of the hard-hitting storyline.

Michelle Hardwick, known for her role as hospital receptionist Lizzie Hopkirk in the ITV drama series The Royal, wrote: “So lovely to meet/work with you.”

Will you be sad to see him go? Let us know in the comments

Liam Baird, 34, is wanted by police on recall to prison in connection with breaching his licence conditions.

He is associated with addresses across the Thames Valley and Wiltshire and police said he is known to frequent Oxford, High Wycombe, Carterton and Wiltshire.

READ MORE: Witney: Urgent search for missing boy as police ‘concerned’

Thames Valley Police are appealing for the public’s help in locating the wanted man, but warned people not to approach him and to call 999 if he’s seen.

Liam Baird is wanted on recall to prison (Image: Thames Valley Police)

Baird is described as a white man, about 5ft 11ins tall, with brown hair, a beard with a moustache, blue eyes and a piercing on his cheek.

A picture was released by police along with the appeal to find him.

A spokesperson for the force said: “If you have any information about his whereabouts call 101 or make a report online, quoting reference 43260201469.

“If you see him, do not approach him, but instead call 999.”