Lufthansa is cutting around 20,000 short-haul flights this summer, citing a surge in jet fuel prices that has made many routes “unprofitable” as the global aviation industry struggling with rising costs.
The German carrier said Tuesday that the cuts, which will continue through October, are expected to save about 40,000 tons of jet fuel. The airline noted that fuel prices have roughly doubled since the crisis began. Iran was.
“In total, 20,000 short-haul flights will be removed from the schedule until October, which is equivalent to around 40,000 tonnes of jet fuel, the price of which has doubled since the outbreak of the Iranian conflict,” the company said in a statement. “Schedule adjustments reduce the number of unprofitable short-haul flights on the Lufthansa Group network.”
Trump says he wants ‘someone’ to buy Spirit Airlines, opposes US-US merger
Lufthansa planes sit on the tarmac at Frankfurt Airport, April 13, 2026. (Hannes P Albert/photo alliance via Getty Images)
The move reflects a broader trend, as airlines around the world adjust their operations in response to rising fuel costs.
THE energy market has experienced increased volatility since the start of the Iran war and the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely limited by the threat of Iranian attacks, impacting the availability of a key input in the manufacture of jet fuel.
Other carriers are taking similar steps. Air Canada announced Friday it was suspending some routes to the United States as jet fuel prices continue to rise.
AIR CANADA CUTS KEY US ROUTES AS FUEL COSTS RISE AMID WAR IN IRAN
Travelers wait in line at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas, March 9, 2026. (Marc Félix/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Delta Air Lines also reduced some summer routes, saying THE UNITED STATES TODAY adjustments are part of “normal planning”.
At the same time, several major airlines – including JetBlue, United, Delta and southwest – have increased baggage fees in recent weeks.
“We’re seeing airfares increase across the board, from full-service to low-cost carriers, from domestic to long-haul international flights,” Sean Cudahy, senior aviation reporter at The Points Guy, told FOX Business. “And it’s not just about fares: Almost every major U.S. carrier has also increased checked baggage fees. This is actually a classic case of companies passing costs on to their customers, and it’s a significant cost.”
RISING JET FUEL PRICES THREATEN TO RISE SUMMER TRAVEL COSTS
A satellite image shows the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, vital for global energy supplies. (Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)
Jet fuel is typically the second largest expense for airlines, according to Cudahy.
“Even if the Strait of Hormuz reopened tomorrow, you would likely see high rates that would persist for months. And those checked baggage fees that just went up? They almost never come down once they go up,” he added.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
FOX Business has reached out to Lufthansa and Delta Air Lines for comment.
Eric Revell and Bonny Chu of FOX Business contributed to this report.