Hundreds of flights are being grounded by two major airlines as concerns grow over dwindling jet fuel reserves in Europe. Lufthansa, the German national airline, is halting its CityLine services starting tomorrow, affecting flights to and from London due to soaring kerosene prices and ongoing labor disputes. Similarly, KLM from the Netherlands has confirmed the cancellation of 160 flights over the next month, attributing this to the unprecedented oil shock triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) has issued a warning that Europe has only a six-week supply of jet fuel left due to the conflict in the Middle East. This situation could lead to flight disruptions if oil supplies continue to be constrained by the ongoing war for control of the crucial Strait of Hormuz between Iran and the US.
The energy crisis unfolding is described as the most significant the world has ever faced by Mr. Birol, with Asian countries like Japan, India, and China, relying on Middle Eastern energy sources being particularly impacted. He cautioned that the repercussions will extend to Europe and the Americas, likely by late May, urging travelers to stay informed before embarking on their journeys.
Lufthansa’s CityLine services, connecting various European destinations including London, Paris, Frankfurt, Florence, Kraków, Stockholm, and Copenhagen, will be suspended from Saturday. The airline cited the substantial hike in kerosene prices post-Iran war and the escalating labor disputes as reasons for expediting parts of its operational adjustments.
The ongoing strikes by German trade unions have already caused approximately 90% of Lufthansa Group flights to be grounded on certain days this week, resulting in flight cancellations at major UK airports like Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Newcastle, and Glasgow. KLM has also announced adjustments to its flight schedules in response to routes no longer deemed financially feasible due to rising kerosene costs.
Additionally, Norse Airlines has scrapped bookings for its upcoming Los Angeles flights from London Gatwick, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Rome Fiumicino this summer. The surge in jet prices since the onset of the Iran war in late February has led to a significant increase in flight cancellations at major international airports, reminiscent of the disruptions witnessed during the Covid pandemic.