Major airline cuts 20,000 flights due to a massive hike in jet fuel

Lufthansa has announced the cancellation of 20,000 short-haul flights from its summer schedule, citing soaring jet fuel costs and wider disruption linked to tensions in the Middle East.

The airline said the bulk of the reductions stem from the withdrawal of its loss-making CityLine operations, including the retirement of 27 aircraft as part of a wider restructuring of its European network.

It blamed a sharp rise in operating costs, with jet fuel prices more than doubling, as well as ongoing labour disputes and supply pressures affecting the aviation sector.

The move comes as airlines across Europe grapple with volatility in energy markets, which have been hit by restrictions on oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz — a key global shipping route.

Industry figures have warned that any prolonged disruption could further tighten fuel availability, pushing up fares for consumers and placing additional strain on airline margins.

Michael O’Leary has warned that jet fuel supplies could come under pressure from May if the situation escalates, stressing that availability is now a greater concern than price alone.

The head of the International Energy Agency has also cautioned that Europe may have as little as six weeks of jet fuel reserves in a worst-case scenario.

Lufthansa said the cancellations would result in savings of around 40,000 tonnes of jet fuel by October, and represent roughly 1% of its total available seat kilometres.

The group is reshaping its European operations by cutting unprofitable routes from its Frankfurt and Munich hubs while expanding services from Zurich, Brussels and Vienna.

Despite the reductions, passengers will still retain access to the airline’s wider global network, though long-haul capacity will be slightly reduced later in the summer.

As part of the changes, Lufthansa will retire six intercontinental aircraft, including two Boeing 747s and four Airbus A340-600s, marking the next stage in its long-term fleet modernisation programme.

The announcement underscores mounting pressure on the aviation industry, where rising energy costs, geopolitical instability and constrained supply chains are increasingly reshaping schedules, pricing and capacity across Europe.