Hundreds of flights have been canceled by two major airlines due to concerns over the dwindling jet fuel supply in Europe. Lufthansa, the German flagship carrier, is halting its CityLine services starting tomorrow, affecting flights to and from London, citing soaring kerosene prices and an ongoing labor dispute. KLM from the Netherlands has confirmed the cancellation of 160 flights over the next month, attributing it to the unprecedented oil shock caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The head of the world’s energy watchdog has cautioned that Europe has only six weeks’ worth of jet fuel left due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The International Energy Agency’s executive director, Fatih Birol, warned of potential flight disruptions if oil supplies continue to be constrained by the conflict in the vital Strait of Hormuz, where Iran and the US are vying for control.
Birol described the situation as the most significant energy crisis ever faced by the world, with Asian nations like Japan, India, and China, heavily reliant on Middle Eastern energy, being the most affected initially. He emphasized that the repercussions would soon extend to Europe and the Americas, likely by late May, urging travelers to stay updated on their travel plans.
Lufthansa’s CityLine services, serving various European destinations including London, Paris, Frankfurt, Florence, Kraków, Stockholm, and Copenhagen, will be suspended starting this weekend. The airline attributed this decision to the substantial increase in kerosene prices and the ongoing labor disputes, aiming to mitigate losses at the struggling airline.
Ongoing strikes by German trade unions have already led to the grounding of approximately 90% of Lufthansa Group flights on certain days this week, causing disruptions at multiple UK airports. KLM also announced adjustments to its flight schedule for the upcoming month, citing routes that are no longer financially viable to operate due to escalating kerosene costs.
Additionally, Norse Airlines has canceled bookings for its planned summer flights from London Gatwick, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Rome Fiumicino to Los Angeles, as jet prices have more than doubled since the onset of the conflict in Iran on February 28, resulting in a significant increase in flight cancellations at major international airports comparable to the peak of the Covid pandemic.
