AIRLINES across Europe are cutting flights as fuel prices surge following the Iran war, raising fears of disruption for travellers ahead of the peak summer season.
Lufthansa has become the latest operator to scale back, cancelling 20,000 flights between May and October as part of efforts to cut costs and reduce fuel use.
The German airline said around 120 flights a day have already been axed, with changes in place until at least the end of May.
The cuts mainly affect short-haul routes from its main bases in Frankfurt and Munich, but also form part of a wider shake-up across its European network.
Lufthansa Group said the reduction will save around 40,000 tonnes of jet fuel, with prices having doubled since the conflict began.
The airline added that the move will reduce capacity by around 1% over the summer season.
Routes are being trimmed or merged across its six main European bases in Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels and Rome.
READ MORE: Spain offers to share jet fuel with EU allies as Iran war squeezes global supplies
Passengers will still be able to connect to lon- haul destinations, but with fewer short-haul options and more indirect routes.
Several destinations have already been dropped, while others are being rerouted through different airports within the group.
This includes changes affecting Cork, a key route for UK and Irish travellers, which will now be served via alternative connections.
‘In total, 20,000 short haul flights will be removed from the schedule through October,’ the airline said.
It added that a full update on summer routes will be published in late April or early May.
The cuts come as European transport ministers meet to avoid a fuel shortage crisis across the region.
The EU announced new measures to monitor jet fuel supplies and possibly share stocks between countries.
A new ‘Fuel Observatory’ will be created to track fuel supply and stock levels across Europe, starting with jet fuel.
Officials said the system will allow closer coordination between member states and industry to spot shortages early.
Countries will also be required to act with ‘full transparency’ if they release emergency fuel reserves to avoid market disruption.
READ MORE: ‘The largest energy crisis we have ever faced’: Europe warned it has just six weeks of jet fuel left
The European Commission is also considering forcing countries to hold minimum jet fuel reserves in the future.
At the same time, efforts are underway to secure alternative supplies, including jet fuel from the United States.
Officials stressed there is currently no confirmed shortage, but said markets are under pressure and need close monitoring.
EU transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas said authorities are also considering allowing airlines to carry extra fuel from outside Europe.
“In case this crisis continues, we are ready to intervene and make things more flexible for the airlines,” he said.
Airlines worldwide are cutting flights or raising ticket prices as fuel costs surge following disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.
US airline Delta Air Lines said it will cut unprofitable routes to recover around $1bn in extra costs.
Several Asian airlines, including Cathay Pacific, Air Asia X and Air New Zealand, have also reduced routes to save fuel.
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