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Jet Fuel Squeeze Drives May Cancellations as Mediterranean Fares Fall

Higher fuel costs from the Strait of Hormuz disruption are squeezing airlines’ summer plans.

Overview

  • Cirium, which updated figures Tuesday, counted 296 UK departures scrapped for May, while planned cuts for June to August remain small so far.
  • About 13,000 flights have been cancelled worldwide for May, removing roughly two million seats as Lufthansa scraps 20,000 short‑haul services through October and Turkish Airlines trims schedules.
  • The squeeze traces to Iran’s block on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which disrupted oil flows and pushed European jet fuel to record levels near $200 a barrel.
  • Financial Times analysis found fares on many Mediterranean routes fell 10% or more between April 9 and May 6, with MilanMadrid down as much as 44% as hesitant travelers booked late.
  • EasyJet Holidays and Jet2 pledged no fuel surcharges on bookings, while UK officials said extra US imports, higher refinery output, and temporary slot relief should limit summer disruption.