Lufthansa cancels 20,000 flights as Middle East tensions disrupt travel
FRANKFURT — Lufthansa, Germany’s largest airline, said it has scrapped about 20,000 scheduled flights for the summer after a sharp rise in jet fuel costs driven by worsening tensions linked to Iran.
FRANKFURT — Lufthansa, Germany’s largest airline, said it has scrapped about 20,000 scheduled flights for the summer after a sharp rise in jet fuel costs driven by worsening tensions linked to Iran.
The carrier said the cuts are intended to contain expenses, adding that fuel prices have climbed steeply as the regional security outlook has deteriorated. The cancellations are expected to reduce consumption by roughly 40,000 tonnes of fuel, with most of the affected services concentrated on short-haul European routes.
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The suspensions will hit Lufthansa’s main hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, and Brussels from May through October 2026.
Company officials said they are trying to keep long-haul international operations steady while also accelerating plans to phase out older aircraft that burn more fuel, part of a broader push to improve efficiency.
The decision comes as the European Union has raised concerns that Middle East tensions could disrupt energy supplies and strain global aviation operations.
AXADLETM