Lufthansa, SAS, and Air France-KLM cut 21,160 flights as jet fuel crisis spreads

Disruption overview

Airlines including Lufthansa, SAS, and Air France-KLM have already cut at least 21,160 flights as the global jet fuel shortage pushes prices sharply higher. Major hubs such as Frankfurt Airport, Munich Airport, Zurich Airport, Vienna International Airport, Brussels Airport, and Rome Fiumicino Airport are already seeing mass cancellations.

For passengers, that means fewer travel options, higher fares, and a greater risk of last-minute changes as summer approaches. Because many of these cuts are commercial decisions rather than direct safety measures, some travelers on EU-origin or EU-destined flights may still have rights under EC 261, although each case will depend on the airline’s reason for the disruption.

Disruption details

Airlines around the world are cutting flights as the jet fuel crisis deepens, with Lufthansa, SAS, and Air France-KLM among the carriers already removing at least 21,160 flights from their schedules. Major hubs including Frankfurt Airport, Munich Airport, Zurich Airport, Vienna International Airport, Brussels Airport, and Rome Fiumicino Airport are already feeling the impact.

For passengers, this means fewer seats, higher fares, and a greater risk of last-minute changes as airlines respond to a fuel supply shock that is still unfolding. The pressure began after the late-February closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and Europe is expected to feel the sharpest squeeze because the waterway normally carries around 75% of the continent’s kerosene.

Jet fuel prices have surged from roughly $85–$90 a barrel to as high as $150–$200. The International Energy Agency has warned that Europe has only six weeks of reserves, and analysts say the cuts already being rolled out could become a much wider summer problem if oil flows don’t resume.

Some of the biggest confirmed schedule changes so far are:

• Lufthansa Group is canceling 20,000 flights through October and has grounded its regional subsidiary CityLine.

• Around 120 Lufthansa daily cancellations are already in place through the end of May, with Frankfurt routes to Bydgoszcz, Rzeszów, and Stavanger removed entirely.

• SAS has cut about 1,000 flights in April.

• Air France-KLM is removing 160 intra-European services next month.

• Vietnam Airlines has taken 23 domestic rotations a week out of its schedule from April, while Norse Atlantic has permanently dropped its London Gatwick–Los Angeles route.

The response goes well beyond those headline cuts. More than three dozen airlines across every continent have already confirmed action, including Aegean Airlines, AirAsia X, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, HK Express, Delta Air Lines, EasyJet, JetBlue Airways, Korean Air, Qantas Airways, TAP Air Portugal, Thai Airways, TUI, United Airlines, and WestJet. Depending on the carrier, that means smaller schedules, higher fares, or extra fuel levies added to tickets.

Some airlines are also passing on the pressure in other ways. Several US carriers, including Alaska, American, Southwest, Spirit, and United, have increased baggage fees, while Indian airlines such as IndiGo and Akasa Air have introduced distance-based fuel charges. In Nigeria, a full domestic shutdown was only avoided after government-brokered talks with the Airline Operators of Nigeria.

If the supply crunch continues, the current wave of cancellations could spread further into the peak summer season. Airlines are trying to protect their operations by trimming weaker routes, cutting frequency, and dropping services that are harder to run profitably at today’s fuel prices.

What this means for your rights isn’t completely straightforward. Many of these cuts appear to be commercial decisions made in response to much higher operating costs, rather than direct safety issues or government orders. On EU-origin or EU-destined flights, that can mean some passengers may still have rights under EC 261 if their flight was canceled at short notice or arrived more than 3 hours late.

At the same time, airlines may argue that the wider fuel crisis was outside their control, so each case will depend on the route and the reason given for the disruption. If your flight has been changed or canceled, keep an eye on updates from your airline, ask about rerouting or a refund, and hold on to receipts for essential expenses. If you want to understand where you stand, you can check your flight with AirHelp’s free flight checker.

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