Worsening fuel shortages threaten half-term holidays
Just days before UK schools break up for half-term, families are being warned of the risk of being stranded in France due to worsening fuel shortages.
The AA told the BBC it had already had to rescue UK drivers who had run out of fuel as more than a fifth of the country’s 12,500 petrol stations are completely dry or have run out of some types of fuel.
AA president Edmund King told the broadcaster: "Our breakdown services in Europe have been taking calls from UK drivers this morning who have run out of fuel.
"We are recovering vehicles stuck at the side of~the road to places of safety until fuel supplies are resumed."
However, it is uncertain how long the fuel shortages will last as unions have blockaded seven out of eight of France’s oil refineries in protest over the government’s proposed labour reforms.
The country has enough emergency supplies to keep petrol stations open for up to two months, according to the Telegraph, but news of fuel shortages has already led to panic buying, and fuel rationing has been imposed in some parts of France, it said.
The UK Foreign Office said: "Following industrial action, blockades of fuel depots, fuel purchasing restrictions have been put in place by local authorities in some parts of France.
"In certain areas you may not be able to fill up jerrycans, and fuel rationing may be imposed; some petrol stations may have run out of some types of fuel."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Marginal increase for New York City tourism in 2025
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments