Rising fuel costs hit London's air ambulance

May 10, 2026

London's Air Ambulance Service charity is experiencing severe financial pressure after fuel costs increased by 116 percent, rising from 89 pence per liter in February to £1. 93 in April due to Middle East conflict disrupting energy supply chains. The charity, which consumes 250 liters of fuel per hour during flights, must now divert donation money previously earmarked for projects to cover operational fuel expenses.

Who is affected

London's Air Ambulance Service charity
Captain Chris Sherriff (pilot) and other service staff
The Felix Project charity and Rachel Ledwith (staff member)
Serv Surrey and London Blood Bikes charity and Katie Stevens (vice chairwoman)
800 organizations on The Felix Project's wait list
Hospitals depending on blood and medical supply transport
UK motorists facing increased fuel pump prices
People requiring emergency air ambulance services

What action is being taken

London's Air Ambulance Service is using donation money intended for projects to fund fuel costs
The UK government is working with suppliers to ensure fuel availability and support businesses
Serv Surrey and London Blood Bikes has measures in place to sustain consistent service to hospitals

Why it matters

The dramatic fuel cost increases threaten the operational viability of critical charitable services that provide life-saving emergency medical transport, food distribution to vulnerable populations, and essential medical supply delivery. These charities operate on donation-based funding models, meaning increased fuel expenses directly reduce their capacity to serve communities and could potentially force service reductions that impact public health and safety during emergencies.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC