Airlines will now be able to cancel flights weeks in advance in a bid to avoid last minute cancellations.

The UK Government has drawn up new contingency plans to allow airlines to merge flights or routes with multiple trips to the same destination on the same day.

This would enable passengers to be moved from their flight to a similar one to save fuel.

Travel journalist Simon Calder told the BBC: "In the middle of summer there aren't many business travellers around, so therefore Lufthansa could say we're going to cancel two or three of these," and could move passengers on one of these services from an 08:30 departure to a 10:30 departure.

"The idea is it would save fuel for people who are on flights from Manchester to the Greek island of Skiathos where there aren't daily departures."

The move comes as conflict in the Middle East continues to put jet fuel supplies under strain.

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has warned that, while flights in May should be manageable, airlines may start to cut flights from June.

He also warned that some airlines could go bankrupt.

Mr O'Leary said: "If oil stays at these levels, two or three European airlines in October or November could go bankrupt like Wizz Air, which wants to sue me but won't have enough time to do so, and airBaltic.

"A good thing for our business' because there will be fewer competitors."

Both airlines denied the claim they could go bankrupt.