Airlines Cut 13,000 Flights in May as Jet Fuel Prices Soar
BBC Business reported Wednesday that carriers worldwide have axed roughly 13,000 flights scheduled for May, stripping close to two million seats from the market as jet fuel prices more than doubled following the escalation of war in the Middle East.
A Market Under Pressure
Aviation analytics firm Cirium data shows Istanbul and Munich absorbing the steepest reductions. Several major carriers including Air France, KLM, Delta, Air Canada, and SAS had already trimmed their summer timetables before the latest round of cuts. German aviation giant Lufthansa separately confirmed it would remove 20,000 flights between now and late October.
Prices for a tonne of jet fuel stood at around $831 in late February. By early April that figure had climbed to $1,838 — a gain of more than 120% in under two months. Supply chain experts have cautioned that disruption to fuel deliveries caused by the Iran war could produce genuine shortages within weeks.
Also Read: Oil Prices Drop and Stock Markets Rise After Reports of Iran Deal
Background: The Hormuz Bottleneck
The core problem is geography. The UK alone imports roughly 65% of the jet fuel it consumes, a meaningful share of which ordinarily travels through the Strait of Hormuz. Closure of that critical waterway has severed those supply lines. In mid-April the head of the International Energy Agency warned member governments that Europe risked facing jet fuel shortages by June unless alternative sources could be secured quickly.
The disruption is not uniformly felt. Wizz Air’s chief executive noted that some European fares were actually falling as carriers compete for customers who have grown cautious about booking.
Also Read: IEA Warns Europe on Jet Fuel Shortage Timeline
UK Government Steps In
London moved to cushion the blow for carriers. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told reporters at the weekend that she expected most summer travellers to experience a broadly normal season. The government is preparing rules that would let airlines cancel flights at congested airports such as Heathrow without forfeiting their valuable takeoff and landing slots — a concession the industry has sought for weeks.
Trade body Advantage Travel Partnership offered reassurance to consumers, noting the 13,000 cancelled flights represent just 1% of global operations. Chief Executive Julia Lo Bue-Said said departures to popular summer sun destinations remain intact and travellers can book with confidence. UK half-term holidays fall at the end of the month, raising the stakes for any further deterioration in supply.
