Two major airlines are grounding hundreds of flights in response to dwindling jet fuel supplies in Europe, with warnings that the region has only a limited amount of fuel left. Lufthansa, the German flag carrier, is halting its CityLine services starting tomorrow, affecting flights to and from London. The decision comes as kerosene costs soar and the airline faces labor disputes. Meanwhile, KLM, the Dutch airline, has confirmed the cancellation of 160 flights over the next month, attributing the move to the unprecedented oil shock caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The head of the world’s energy watchdog has raised concerns over the jet fuel supply in Europe, stating that only six weeks’ worth of fuel remains due to conflicts in the Middle East. Executive director of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, warned of potential flight disruptions if oil flow continues to be restricted by the ongoing war in the region, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz.
Birol emphasized that the energy crisis stemming from the conflict is unprecedented and affecting regions beyond Asia, with Europe and the Americas likely to feel the impact soon. Tourists are advised to stay informed about potential flight disruptions before traveling.
Lufthansa’s CityLine services, which operate flights to various European destinations including London, Paris, Frankfurt, Florence, Kraków, Stockholm, and Copenhagen, will be suspended starting this weekend. The airline cited significantly increased kerosene prices and labor disputes as reasons for the decision to remove 27 operational aircraft from its schedule.
Ongoing strikes by German trade unions have disrupted around 90% of all Lufthansa Group flights on certain days this week, leading to cancellations across multiple UK airports. KLM also announced adjustments to its flight schedule, discontinuing routes that are no longer financially viable due to escalating kerosene costs.
In addition, Norse Airlines has scrapped bookings for upcoming Los Angeles flights from London Gatwick, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Rome Fiumicino, as jet prices have more than doubled since the start of the Iran war in late February. The aviation industry is experiencing a surge in flight cancellations reminiscent of the peak of the Covid pandemic.
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