Europe’s summer getaway is under threat as airlines slash thousands of flights amid a deepening jet fuel crunch, raising alarm among holidaymakers.
Lufthansa alone is scrapping 20,000 services through October to conserve fuel, the carrier announced on Tuesday, while airlines across the continent trim schedules as costs surge and supplies tighten.
Western Airlines lose almost 50% of World’s Airspace as War with Iran Develops
The jet fuel squeeze is being driven by disruption in one of the world’s most critical energy choke-points – the Strait of Hormuz – amid the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Around 20% of global oil supply passes through the narrow route linking the Persian Gulf to world markets, making it vital to energy flows to Europe and Asia, according to the International Energy Agency.
The escalation of the conflict has sharply reduced tanker traffic through the strait, with shipments delayed or halted, triggering what IEA chief Fatih Birol even warned could become the worst energy crisis in history.
The EU does produce jet fuel in its own refineries, but not in sufficient volumes, which is why Europe’s aviation sector is particularly exposed to the situation in the Middle East.
Around 75% of Europe’s jet fuel imports come from the region, mostly Kuwait, making supplies highly vulnerable to disruptions in Gulf shipping routes.
Jet fuel itself is also relatively scarce by design. Only a small share of crude oil, typically around 10%, is refined into jet fuel, meaning supply cannot easily be increased even when demand is high.
Jet fuel prices have roughly doubled since the Iran war began on February 28, 2026. Airlines have begun passing on costs by raising fares, adding surcharges, and increasing fees for baggage and other extras, according to reports.
At the same time, carriers are cutting unprofitable routes and reducing frequency, increasing the risk of last-minute cancellations and disruption.
Airlines including Lufthansa, KLM, Ryanair, SAS, and Aer Lingus have already cut or cancelled flights, according to industry and media reports.
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Europe’s biggest holiday operator TUI has said that holidaymakers were demonstrating increased caution and booking closer to departure dates, according to industry reports.
Much now depends on whether shipping through the Strait of Hormuz resumes. But even if flows were restored immediately, analysts warn the disruption may already be too deep to avoid impacting the peak travel season.
Energy market specialists say it would take months for global oil and jet fuel supplies to normalize after such a shock. Matt Smith, lead oil analyst at Kpler, said recovery could take until “at least July,” adding that even that timeline may prove optimistic.
RT. com / ABC Flash Point News 2026.
Still enough totally demotivated people that dream of a better life leading to stupid and mass polluting air travel vacations.