Fuel crisis hits skies: Lufthansa cancels 20,000 flights amid Iran tensions

Germany’s largest carrier, Lufthansa, announced on April 21 that it will cancel around 20,000 short-haul flights between May and October in an effort to conserve fuel.

“In total, 20,000 short-haul flights will be removed from the schedule through October, equivalent to approximately 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel, the price of which has doubled since the outbreak of the Iran conflict,” the airline said in a statement.

The disruption is being compounded by the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil and gas supplies, which has intensified concerns over fuel availability and costs.

Lufthansa said the schedule adjustments are aimed at reducing unprofitable short-haul operations across its network. The consolidation will affect its six major hubs—Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels and Rome.

Despite the cuts, the airline said passengers will continue to have access to its global route network, particularly long-haul connections. “However, due to the increase in jet fuel prices, this will be achieved significantly more efficiently than before,” the group added.

The carrier also said it is revising its medium-term route planning in light of the capacity reduction, with updated schedules expected to be published in late April or early May. These changes will include optimizations to its short-haul offerings for the summer season to ensure greater schedule stability.

Meanwhile, EU Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas told EuroNews that there are currently no indications of an immediate jet fuel shortage, but emphasized the need for swift and appropriate action if the situation worsens.

He added that the use of emergency fuel reserves is being considered “if real supply issues arise.”