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Fuel Price Surge Disrupts Europe Air Travel

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, Berlin
  • Apr 22, 2026
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German carrier Lufthansa has announced plans to cancel around 20,000 short-haul flights between May and October, citing a sharp rise in jet fuel prices across Europe. The surge is linked to ongoing tensions involving Strait of Hormuz, which have disrupted oil supplies and pushed fuel costs to nearly double.

Since Monday, the airline has already reduced about 120 flights per day as part of cost-saving measures, aiming to conserve nearly 40,000 tonnes of jet fuel. Despite these cuts, Lufthansa said it will maintain a stable summer schedule by restructuring its short-haul network, with a detailed plan expected in late April or early May.

The airline is also overhauling its route network—loss-making routes from Frankfurt and Munich will be discontinued, while services from Zurich, Brussels, and Vienna will be expanded to improve connectivity with long-haul flights.

On the long-haul front, capacity will be slightly reduced by the end of summer. Six wide-body aircraft will be withdrawn, including two Boeing 747s that will remain grounded over winter, and four Airbus A340-600 planes set for permanent retirement in October.

Additionally, Lufthansa is grounding 27 aircraft from its Cityline fleet to cut costs, pointing to high fuel prices and ongoing labour disputes.

Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency has warned that Europe may have only six weeks of jet fuel reserves left. In response, the European Union is exploring alternatives such as sourcing fuel from the US and allowing increased refuelling outside the region.

The crisis is affecting airlines globally. Delta Air Lines plans to trim about 3.5% of its network to save $1 billion, while carriers like Cathay Pacific, AirAsia X, and Air New Zealand are also cutting routes or raising fares.

With fuel accounting for 25–40% of airline costs, passengers are likely to face higher ticket prices, fewer direct flights, and longer travel times due to increased reliance on connecting routes.