Airlines Cut 13,000 May Flights as Jet Fuel Prices Surge
BBC Business reported Wednesday that airlines worldwide have scrapped roughly 13,000 flights in May, pulling close to two million seats from schedules as jet fuel prices climb sharply amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.
A Crisis Building at the Worst Time
The cuts land just weeks before peak summer travel demand. Aviation analytics firm Cirium identified Istanbul and Munich as the cities hardest hit by reduced capacity. Other major hubs facing significant cancellations include Chicago O’Hare, Dallas Fort Worth, Frankfurt, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Amsterdam Schiphol.
Despite the scale of cuts, industry voices are urging calm. The travel agents’ trade body Advantage Travel Partnership noted the cancellations represent roughly 1% of global flights. Chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said said the reductions were “marginal” and confirmed UK departures to popular summer destinations remain intact.
Also Read: What the Strait of Hormuz Closure Means for Global Energy Markets
How Jet Fuel Prices Got Here
The price shock stems directly from the Iran conflict. One tonne of jet fuel traded near $831 in late February. By early April it had surged past $1,800, representing more than a double in price within weeks. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for oil and gas shipments, has severed a supply route that normally accounts for a significant portion of UK fuel imports. Britain sources roughly 65% of its jet fuel from abroad, with the Middle East a key supplier under normal conditions.
The International Energy Agency warned in mid-April that Europe could face jet fuel shortages by June unless alternative supplies are secured quickly. Experts have flagged that delivery disruptions could trigger shortfalls within weeks even if airlines are not yet reporting acute shortages.
Also Read: IEA Energy Security Briefings
Airlines Adapt, Governments Respond
Several major carriers have already moved to trim summer capacity. The German group Lufthansa announced plans to remove 20,000 flights between now and the end of October. Air France, KLM, Delta, Air Canada, and SAS have each trimmed their summer timetables as well.
Pricing signals are mixed. Some carriers have passed higher costs on to passengers through elevated fares. Wizz Air’s chief executive, however, noted that certain European routes are actually seeing fares fall as airlines compete for more hesitant travellers.
The UK government is introducing contingency measures. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed airlines will be permitted to cancel flights at congested airports, including Heathrow, well ahead of schedule without forfeiting valuable landing and take-off slots. Alexander said the situation remains “evolving” but expressed confidence most summer travellers would face minimal disruption.
