The European aviation sector is under significant pressure due to the energy crisis caused by the conflict in the Middle East. One of the hardest-hit companies is the German carrier Lufthansa Group, which has announced a large-scale reduction of flights until October 2026. The company plans to cancel 20,000 flights to reduce operational costs amid a sharp rise in aviation fuel prices.
This is reported by Finway
Fuel Savings and Route Network Update
Lufthansa emphasizes that this decision will save over 40,000 metric tons of aviation fuel. According to company representatives, the price of aviation fuel has doubled since the escalation of the situation in the Middle East, jeopardizing the profitability of many short-haul flights.
“We will be able to save over 40,000 metric tons of aviation fuel, the price of which has skyrocketed due to the escalation in the region.”
Schedule Changes and Fleet Reductions
The company noted that Lufthansa’s overall capacity will decrease by less than 1%. The optimization will primarily affect short, low-profit routes from key hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. At the same time, the carrier plans to strengthen air connections with the cities of Zurich, Vienna, Brussels, and Rome.
The first changes have already been implemented: 120 daily flights have been canceled (the restrictions will be in effect until May 31). Flights from Frankfurt to the Polish cities of Bydgoszcz and Rzeszów, as well as to the Norwegian city of Stavanger, have been temporarily suspended. Additionally, another 10 European destinations, including Gdansk, Wroclaw, Ljubljana, and Stuttgart, will be rerouted through other hub airports of Lufthansa Group.
Furthermore, the company announced the early retirement of 27 Canadair CRJ regional aircraft, which belonged to its subsidiary CityLine and were operating at a loss. By October 2026, Lufthansa’s fleet will also see changes — six long-haul aircraft will be retired: four Airbus A340-600s and two Boeing 747-400s.