A prominent European airline is preparing to cancel more than 100 flights, including routes to and from London, in response to the fuel crisis triggered by recent events in Iran.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, the national carrier of the Netherlands, will be scrapping 160 flights in the next month, evenly distributed between departures and arrivals at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The airline clarified that it is not experiencing shortages of jet fuel but is implementing this measure to control costs amidst escalating fuel prices.
Passengers impacted by these cancellations will be rebooked on the next available flight. Since KLM operates multiple daily flights to destinations like London and Düsseldorf, affected travelers can expect swift alternative arrangements.
With the upcoming busy holiday season in May, KLM is ensuring that passengers can reach their vacation spots as originally planned. These flight cancellations represent approximately one percent of KLM’s European flight schedule.
Airlines all across Europe are adjusting their routes and fares to cope with increased operational expenses. The head of the International Energy Agency has warned that Europe may have only about six weeks of jet fuel reserves left, hinting at potential additional flight disruptions if oil supplies continue to be disrupted.
The Executive Director of the IEA, Fatih Birol, painted a grim picture of the global impact of what he referred to as “the most significant energy crisis the world has ever encountered,” stemming from the disruption of oil, gas, and other critical supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.
In a related development, Skybus, a UK airline operating flights between London Gatwick and Newquay, has decided to cancel all future services due to surging fuel costs and a decline in passenger numbers. The airline had been operating these flights since November 2025 under a Public Service Obligation supported by Cornwall Council and the Department for Transport. However, due to the economic challenges and energy conservation efforts globally, continuing with significantly reduced passenger numbers was deemed unsustainable.
Jonathan Hinkles, the Managing Director of Skybus, stated that the combination of skyrocketing fuel prices post-Gulf conflict and dwindling bookings following the announcement of route closure made it unfeasible to sustain operations through April and May.
