The surge in aviation fuel prices is beginning to affect both flight availability and ticket costs, as airlines revise their summer schedules under the pressure of the conflict in the Middle East.
According to data from Cirium, airlines have removed approximately 2 million available seats from May schedules, either through cancellations or by using smaller aircraft. In total, around 13,000 fewer flights are being recorded worldwide — less than 2% of the global flight schedule, but enough to raise concerns ahead of the summer season. The largest cuts are being seen in Istanbul and Munich, with Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa significantly reducing their operations. Lufthansa has already removed 20,000 short-haul flights through October.
The largest cuts are being seen in Istanbul and Munich, with Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa significantly reducing their operations
The main reason is the sharp increase in jet fuel prices, which have more than doubled from $831 per ton before the escalation of the crisis to $1,838. Although most major European airlines use fuel hedging mechanisms to manage risk, several carriers have already introduced fare increases or additional fuel surcharges.
These extra charges vary depending on the market, airline, and route distance, ranging from fuel surcharges of €10–€100 per passenger to ticket price increases of 10%–20% on certain international routes.
At the same time, governments and airlines are preparing for the possibility of prolonged fuel supply disruptions throughout the summer if instability in the Middle East continues.
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Sources: BBC, Guardian, Reuters
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