Lufthansa has announced that it will cancel 20,000 short-haul flights by October due to rising jet fuel prices. Capacity contraction and the cost crisis in European aviation are deepening.
Jet fuel crisis reshapes European aviation
Lufthansa has announced that it will cancel approximately 20,000 short-haul flights by October due to rising jet fuel costs. The decision reveals that cost pressures in the European aviation sector have begun to directly affect operational planning.
Capacity Declines, Network Reshaped
In a statement by the Lufthansa Group, it was noted that the flight network will be re-optimized throughout the summer season and that capacity reductions will be implemented, particularly on short-haul routes.
The company emphasized that the 20,000 flights to be cancelled correspond to approximately 40,000 metric tonnes of jet fuel. It was stated that this step represents a strategic restructuring aimed at reducing low-profit short-haul operations.
120 Daily Flights Already Cancelled
It was reported that the first step of the plan has been taken and that an average of 120 flights per day have already been removed from the system. Lufthansa also announced that medium-term route planning will be reviewed in the coming months.
The company states that long-haul routes will be preserved, but a more efficient operational structure will be adopted. This situation is interpreted as a “rebalancing” of the global network rather than a contraction.
Fuel Crisis Deepens
The statement recalled that jet fuel prices have doubled following geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Rising costs are said to be creating serious pressure on European airlines.
These developments are creating a domino effect in the sector. In recent weeks, KLM also announced that it would cancel 160 intra-European flights due to rising costs. Additionally, Lufthansa subsidiary CityLine’s decision to suspend operations is considered part of this process.
Fuel Supply Alert in Europe
On the energy front, warnings are becoming increasingly severe. Fatih Birol had stated that Europe could soon face the risk of a jet fuel shortage.
Under the current structure, European Union refineries meet approximately 70% of jet fuel demand. The remaining portion is largely imported from the Middle East and Gulf countries. This dependency further increases the impact of price fluctuations on European aviation.
