Overview
- Lufthansa, which disclosed Tuesday it will pull 20,000 short‑haul flights through October, says the move will save about 40,000 tonnes of jet fuel after prices roughly doubled since late February.
- Europe’s jet fuel outlook is tightening, with the IEA warning of about six weeks of cover and EU officials mapping stock‑sharing and easier imports after transport ministers met this week.
- Other carriers are paring schedules or adding fees as costs rise, with KLM dropping 160 flights, Air Canada suspending some U.S. routes, and several Asian airlines trimming service or adding fuel surcharges.
- The squeeze stems from disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for oil that feeds Europe’s kerosene supply, pushing global jet fuel near $200 a barrel and making low‑margin routes uneconomic.
- Lufthansa says near‑term fuel is secured via physical purchases and hedging, yet travelers face fewer options and higher prices this summer even as Spain’s airlines expand capacity on stronger domestic fuel access.