Frankfurt, April 24, 2026, 14:59 CEST
- Lufthansa plans to cut 20,000 short-haul flights through October—a move trimming under 1% of its overall capacity but projected to save over 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel.
- Frankfurt flights to Bydgoszcz, Rzeszów, and Stavanger are on hold until May 31, part of the initial 120 daily cancellations already underway.
- Jet fuel prices are pinching carriers across Europe just as the peak summer travel season approaches, putting added pressure on the sector.
Lufthansa Group plans to axe 20,000 short-haul flights from its summer roster through October, a significant retreat as jet fuel prices climb on fallout from the Iran conflict. The German airline expects to save upwards of 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel with the move, while group capacity will shrink by under 1%—measured in available seat kilometers, or the total number of seats multiplied by distance flown. Lufthansagroup
The timing is crucial, with peak summer bookings ramping up just as airlines face soaring fuel bills. Jet fuel has jumped sharply—Reuters puts prices in the $150-$200 per barrel range lately, compared to $85-$90 previously. That’s a huge hit, considering fuel often eats up as much as 25% of airline operating costs. Reuters
Lufthansa is targeting its short-haul operations in Frankfurt and Munich for the bulk of the cuts, as the carrier reallocates traffic among its six hubs—Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels, and Rome. The company said travelers will retain access to long-haul flights, though they should expect reduced feeder service and a tighter network of European routes. Lufthansagroup
The initial impact is clear. Lufthansa confirmed 120 daily flights were cut this week, a reduction that stays in place until May 31—passengers got the word. Flights between Frankfurt and Bydgoszcz, Rzeszów, and Stavanger are off the board for now. Ten more routes are being merged via alternate group hubs. Lufthansagroup
The group said jet fuel supplies are covered for the next several weeks, and it’s expecting to keep fuel steady for its planned summer schedule. Physical buying and price hedges are in play—those are financial moves to cap or fix future fuel costs, according to the group. Lufthansagroup
Lufthansa is pressing ahead with deeper cuts: last week, it outlined plans to permanently ground 27 CityLine jets, and four aging Airbus A340-600s will exit the airline’s main fleet once the summer schedule wraps up. The carrier is also locked in a dispute with pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit over pensions, according to Reuters. Reuters
Rico Luman, senior economist at ING Research in Amsterdam, described Lufthansa’s cuts as “massive” in comments to NPR, and suggested this might be “the start of more announcements” from European carriers. KLM and Scandinavian Airlines have trimmed schedules too, but their reductions aren’t as large as Lufthansa’s. Wunc
Lufthansa isn’t the only one feeling the squeeze. Reuters reports Air France-KLM is set to hike long-haul ticket prices, while KLM plans to axe 160 European flights over the next month. SAS will scrap 1,000 flights in April, after already making earlier cuts. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, for his part, said fares might have to climb 15% to 20% just to cover jumped fuel costs. Reuters
Transport & Environment estimates the recent fuel hike tacked on 88 euros—about $104—to what passengers are paying for long-haul flights out of Europe, and 29 euros more for trips staying within the region. “This crisis is about Europe’s reliance on foreign oil, not just climate policies airlines push back against,” said Diane Vitry, who directs aviation at T&E. Reuters
The outlook could still shift. Should fuel supplies return to normal, Lufthansa’s under-1% reduction in capacity might be all it takes to keep flights on track. A worsening shortage, though, spells a rougher summer: fewer available seats, more last-minute cancellations, and heightened calls for regulators to either ration fuel or ease up on airport slot restrictions.
Europe faces potential flight cancellations as soon as late May due to jet fuel shortages, the International Air Transport Association cautioned last week. If rationing becomes unavoidable, IATA urged authorities to have “well-communicated and well-coordinated plans” ready. The group, which speaks for over 360 airlines and handles roughly 85% of the world’s air traffic, made the statement. Iata
