Air conditioning units in the United Kingdom are currently sold out until next spring, as an unprecedented heatwave this summer has driven a surge in demand for cooling appliances. Major suppliers report that portable air conditioners will not be available until at least April 2027 due to depleted warehouse inventories.

British Gas has suspended new air conditioning installation bookings after exhausting its available appointment slots, advising customers to wait until additional slots open. The supply shortage follows a series of extreme weather events across the UK, including the hottest June on record and the driest July in decades.

Chris Michael, co-founder of Meaco, a premium air conditioning manufacturer, described the demand as exceptional, surpassing the company’s increased imports. Despite importing 40% more units than usual this year, Meaco’s stock was rapidly depleted following multiple heatwaves between late May and July. “Even if we had 400% more this year, it wouldn’t have been enough,” Michael said, noting that some popular models are now unavailable until April 2027. Meaco’s units typically retail between £300 and £600.

Retailers such as Currys have also observed significant sales growth, reporting a 32% increase in air conditioner sales compared with the same period last summer, which also experienced several heatwaves. The majority of portable air conditioners sold in the UK are manufactured in China and then shipped to Europe, exposing the supply chain to considerable delays.

Transit times for shipments have nearly doubled from approximately 28 days to 55 days, partially due to disruptions in the Middle East that have forced some cargo to be rerouted around southern Africa rather than through the Suez Canal. Additionally, freight charges have risen sharply from roughly $2,000 (£1,500) to nearly $6,000 per container since the beginning of summer, exacerbating pressure on supply chains already stretched by high demand.

The current situation indicates that consumer access to air conditioning units will remain limited for the foreseeable future as suppliers, manufacturers, and logistics networks struggle to keep pace with unprecedented heat-driven demand.