Lufthansa is cutting roughly 20,000 short-haul flights this summer, citing a surge in jet fuel prices that has made many routes unprofitable. The German carrier said the reductions, running through October, will save about 40,000 metric tons of fuel — the cost of which has roughly doubled since the Iran conflict began.
“In total, 20,000 short-haul flights will be removed from the schedule through October, equivalent to approximately 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel, the price of which has doubled since the outbreak of the Iran conflict,” the company said in a statement. “The schedule adjustments reduce the number of unprofitable short-haul flights across the Lufthansa Group network.”
Lufthansa aircraft sit on the tarmac at Frankfurt Airport on April 13, 2026.
The move reflects a wider pattern. Airlines globally are reworking their networks as fuel costs climb. Energy markets have grown increasingly volatile since the Iran war began, with the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz constrained by the threat of attacks — disrupting a critical input for jet fuel production.
Air Canada announced Friday it is suspending select U.S.-bound routes as prices continue to rise. Delta Air Lines has trimmed some summer schedules, describing the moves to USA Today as part of normal planning.
Travelers wait in line at a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas, on March 9, 2026.
Major U.S. carriers have raised ancillary fees to offset the hit. JetBlue, United, Delta, and Southwest have all increased checked bag charges in recent weeks.
“We are seeing airfare increase across the board, from full-service airlines to budget carriers, from domestic routes to long-haul international,” said Sean Cudahy, senior aviation reporter at The Points Guy. “And it is not just fares — almost every major U.S. carrier has hiked checked bag fees. This is a straightforward case of companies passing costs to customers, and it is a significant one.”
A satellite image shows the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, vital for global energy supply.
Jet fuel is typically an airline’s second-largest expense. Even if the Strait of Hormuz reopened immediately, fares would likely remain elevated for months, Cudahy said. And the newly raised bag fees are unlikely to fall back.
“Even if the Strait of Hormuz reopened tomorrow, you would likely see lingering high fares for months to come. And those checked bag fees that just rose? Those almost never come back down once they go up.”