Lufthansa Group plans to cancel around 20,000 short-haul flights through October as airlines across Europe respond to a sharp rise in fuel costs and growing concern over supply disruptions linked to the conflict involving Iran.
The company said the first wave of cuts began on Monday, with about 120 flights a day being removed from schedules through the end of May. According to the group, the reductions are intended to lower fuel consumption and ease operational pressure at a time when jet fuel has become significantly more expensive.
Lufthansa Group, which includes Lufthansa Airlines, SWISS, Austrian Airlines and several other carriers, estimates that the early round of cancellations could save roughly 40,000 metric tons of fuel. The broader reduction in service reflects a strategy increasingly being adopted by airlines whose short-haul routes have become less viable under current market conditions.
Carriers around the world are reassessing networks that were profitable under lower energy prices but are now under strain as fuel expenses rise. Industry pressure has intensified since the start of the war, with average jet fuel prices reportedly surging to levels that are forcing airlines to review costs route by route.
Europe is considered particularly exposed because it relies heavily on imported jet fuel. A large share of that supply has traditionally come from the Middle East, and the disruption of shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz has added to fears of tighter availability in the weeks ahead.
Beyond the immediate impact on airline schedules, the situation is also fueling wider concern about possible shortages and even rationing if supply chains remain constrained. For now, Lufthansa’s move signals how quickly geopolitical instability is feeding into commercial aviation, with airlines adjusting capacity to protect margins and manage uncertainty in an increasingly volatile energy market.
