Lufthansa is cutting roughly 20,000 short-haul flights this summer, citing a spike in jet fuel prices that has made many routes “unprofitable” as the global aviation industry struggles with rising costs.
The German airline said Tuesday that the cuts, which will last through October, are expected to save about 40,000 tons of jet fuel. The airline noted that fuel prices have roughly doubled since the outbreak of the war against Iran.
“A total of 20,000 short-haul flights will be removed from the schedule through October, equivalent to approximately 40,000 tons of aviation fuel, the price of which has doubled since the outbreak of the conflict in Iran,” the company said in a statement. “The schedule adjustments reduce the number of unprofitable short-haul flights within the Lufthansa Group network.”
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Lufthansa planes stand on the tarmac of Frankfurt Airport on April 13, 2026. (Hannes P Albert/photo alliance via Getty Images)
The move reflects a broader trend as airlines worldwide adjust their operations in response to rising fuel costs.
The energy market has seen increased volatility since the start of the war against Iran and the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely restricted by the threat of Iranian attacks, impacting the availability of a key raw material for jet fuel production.
Other carriers are taking similar steps. Air Canada announced Friday it is suspending select U.S. routes as jet fuel prices continue to rise.
AIR CANADA CUTS MAJOR US ROUTES AS FUEL COSTS RISE DURING IRAN WAR
Travelers wait in line at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas, on March 9, 2026. (Mark Felix/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Delta Air Lines has also shortened some summer routes, which is telling USA TODAY the adjustments are part of the ‘normal planning’.
At the same time, several major airlines — including JetBlue, United, Delta and Southwest — have increased baggage fees in recent weeks.
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Jet fuel is typically airlines’ second-largest expense, according to Cudahy.
“Even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens tomorrow, you will likely see high rates persist for months to come. And those checked bag fees that just went up? They almost never come back once they go up,” he added.
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