Lufthansa Cuts 20,000 Summer Flights Amid Soaring Fuel Costs
German carrier Lufthansa has announced plans to cancel around 20,000 short-haul European flights this summer, citing a sharp rise in jet fuel prices that has made many routes financially unsustainable.
The airline said fuel costs have surged significantly following the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, particularly the US–Israel–Iran conflict, which has disrupted production and transportation of aviation fuel across the region.
Other global airlines, including Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines, have also scaled back operations or increased ticket prices in response to rising operating costs. Industry analysts warn that passengers could face further fare hikes and additional cancellations if the situation persists.
The Gulf region, which supplies roughly half of Europe’s aviation fuel imports, has been heavily impacted. A significant portion of these supplies typically passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route that has been effectively disrupted amid the ongoing crisis.
Lufthansa stated that the flight reductions are expected to save approximately 40,000 metric tonnes of jet fuel. Much of the cutback is tied to the downsizing of its regional subsidiary, Lufthansa CityLine.
As a result, the airline will temporarily suspend services to several European destinations, including Heringsdorf, Cork, Gdańsk, Ljubljana, Rijeka, Sibiu, Stuttgart, Trondheim, Tivat, and Wrocław.
Passengers affected by the cancellations will be offered refunds or rebooked on alternative flights operated by Lufthansa’s partner airlines, including SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and ITA Airways, where available.
The airline added that some of the reductions could become permanent as it reviews its broader European network, with further updates expected later in April.
Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency has warned that Europe could face jet fuel shortages within weeks, although officials in the UK and airline operators say supply disruptions have not yet materialised.
In response, the European Union has announced plans to establish a fuel monitoring system to track production, imports, exports, and stock levels, aiming to reduce the impact of rising fuel costs on the aviation sector.
Despite the cutbacks, Lufthansa said travellers will continue to have access to its global network, particularly long-haul routes, though operations will be adjusted to improve fuel efficiency.
