Overview
- Following Tuesday's call of EU transport ministers, Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas said Europe faces pressure but no confirmed jet-fuel shortage and announced a new fuel observatory to track supplies.
- Brussels clarified that a real fuel shortage counts as an extraordinary circumstance under EU air-passenger rules, while cancellations driven by high fuel costs can still trigger cash compensation.
- Lufthansa will remove about 20,000 short‑haul flights from May to October to lower fuel use, with roughly 120 daily cuts already affecting trips through late May and an expected schedule update by early May.
- Network and pricing responses are spreading as KLM trims routes, SAS cuts April flights, Ryanair pares weaker services, ANA and JAL raise fuel surcharges for May tickets, and Wizz Air cites hedges covering about 70% of fuel for six months.
- Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary says suppliers indicate no supply risk through May but warns June is uncertain if the Strait of Hormuz stays closed, a risk that has also prompted German officials to hold energy security talks.