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Environment
May 15, 2026
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UK Fuel Crisis: Campaigners Call for Private Jet Ban and Speed Limit Cuts

AI Summary
Leading climate and transport organizations are calling on the UK government to ban private jets and reduce motorway speed limits to 60mph to address an impending fuel supply crisis. These measures aim to prevent severe jet fuel shortages and rising petrol prices while also reducing carbon emissions.

The Looming Fuel Crisis Demands Immediate Action

Leading climate and transport organizations are calling on the UK government to implement pre-emptive measures to address an impending fuel supply crisis. The coalition, including Greenpeace and Transport and Environment, warns that ministers must not "sleepwalk into a crisis" that could lead to severe shortages of jet fuel and spiralling petrol prices in the coming months.

Proposed Measures to Reduce Fuel Demand

The campaign group has outlined several key measures to lower demand for oil in a fair and orderly way:

  • Banning private jets and short-haul flights that can be covered by train in under six hours
  • Reducing the speed limit on UK motorways to 60mph
  • Implementing a levy on ultra-frequent flyers

Doug Parr, chief scientist at Greenpeace UK, emphasized that these measures would cause minimal inconvenience now while avoiding more painful decisions later. "By getting ahead of the problem, ministers can not only soften the blow for UK drivers and passengers – they can also cut climate emissions and put fairness at the heart of this crisis response," he stated.

Quantifying Potential Fuel Savings

According to Greenpeace analysis, the proposed measures could have a significant impact on fuel consumption:

  • A ban on private jets combined with measures on frequent flyers and short-haul flights could save nearly a million tonnes of jet fuel annually, representing 8% of the UK's total jet fuel consumption
  • Reducing motorway speed limits by 10mph could save nearly half a million tonnes of fuel, equivalent to 1.5% of the UK's road transport fuel use

UK's Vulnerability to Fuel Shortages

The UK is particularly exposed to the looming jet fuel shortage, with analysts warning of a real risk of rationing as supplies fall to "critically low levels" just before the busy summer holiday season. This vulnerability stems from the country's dependence on imported oil and the geopolitical tensions surrounding the US-led war in Iran.

International Energy Agency head Fatih Birol has warned that the conflict in Iran would have an impact similar to the combined effect of the 1970s oil shocks and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Many governments worldwide have already introduced measures ranging from fuel rationing to limiting car journeys and increasing renewable energy investments.

Political Response and Future Outlook

Green party leader Zack Polanski backed the call for banning private jets, highlighting the contrast between ordinary families facing canceled holidays and the "super rich" continuing to use private jets for unnecessary trips. "The government should act now: put in place a temporary ban on non-essential private jet travel to save the summer holiday for the families who have worked hard to save for it," he urged.

Anna Krajinska, UK director at Transport and Environment, emphasized that the crisis exposes the UK's dangerous dependence on volatile fossil fuels. "The long-term solution is clear, the UK must accelerate the shift to new technologies, from electric vehicles to zero-emission aviation. Breaking free from fossil fuels won't just cut emissions, it will deliver a more resilient, secure and prosperous future," she stated.

A UK government spokesperson responded that while airlines are not currently seeing fuel shortages, contingency plans include options for fuel prioritization if needed. The government is not planning to change motorway speed limits, noting that private aviation accounts for a small proportion of total fuel use.