Lufthansa will cut 20,000 short-haul flights this summer due to soaring jet fuel prices caused by the Iran war. The German airline said the cuts would save roughly 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel, with most reductions coming from closing its CityLine service and retiring 27 aircraft.
Key Takeaways
Lufthansa will cut 20,000 short-haul flights this summer due to soaring jet fuel prices caused by the Iran war. The airline aims to save roughly 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel by focusing on hub airports and retiring aircraft.
- Lufthansa cancels less profitable routes and focuses on Frankfurt and Munich hubs
- Jet fuel price has more than doubled since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran
- Europe relies heavily on Middle Eastern imports for 75% of its jet fuel
- EU warns of potential flight cancellations if oil supplies remain disrupted
- Passengers face fewer flight options, higher fees during peak summer season
The decision comes as airlines worldwide grapple with a major crisis in jet fuel supplies. The price of jet fuel has more than doubled since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran, which has disrupted production and transportation through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil supplies. European aviation companies are particularly affected by fuel price increases as they rely heavily on imports from the Middle East.
Lufthansa is not alone in making cuts. Other airlines, including KLM-France, Delta, SAS, and Air France-KLM, have also reduced flights or raised ticket prices to offset higher fuel costs. The International Energy Agency warned last week that Europe could run out of jet fuel within weeks if the crisis continues.
Analysts expect further price hikes and cancellations as demand for air travel increases during the peak summer season. The EU is setting up a fuel observatory to track production and imports of transport fuels in an effort to mitigate potential shortages. Meanwhile, industry experts warn that passengers should prepare for higher ticket prices or consider domestic travel options due to the ongoing uncertainty.
Lufthansa said it has secured enough jet fuel 'for the coming weeks' and was pursuing a range of measures to keep its fuel supply stable for the summer. The global price of jet fuel increased from about $99 per barrel at the end of February to as high as $209 a barrel at the beginning of April.
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