Lufthansa will cut 20,000 short-haul flights this summer as it moves to reduce costs amid a sharp rise in jet fuel prices and ongoing supply pressures.
The German carrier said the reductions are linked largely to the shutdown of its loss-making CityLine operations and the retirement of 27 aircraft. The move is expected to deliver significant savings as fuel costs have doubled, while labour disputes have also weighed on operations.
Airlines across Europe are facing mounting pressure as oil supplies from the Middle East remain disrupted, largely due to the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The impact is already filtering through to consumers, with ticket prices beginning to rise.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary warned earlier this month that fuel supply disruptions could intensify from May if the strait remains closed. He described oil prices as part of the broader impact, but flagged jet fuel availability as the more immediate concern.
Separately, the head of the International Energy Agency told the Associated Press last week that Europe may have only around six weeks of jet fuel reserves.
Lufthansa said the cancelled flights would save approximately 40,000 tonnes of fuel by October, noting that the cuts represent about 1% of its available seat kilometres.
The airline is also restructuring its European network, reducing unprofitable routes from its Frankfurt and Munich hubs while expanding services from Zurich, Brussels and Vienna.
Despite the changes, Lufthansa said passengers will continue to have access to its global route network and long-haul connections.
Source: news.ro, Sky News/ ertnews.gr