Lufthansa Cuts 20,000 Short-Haul Flights Until October Amid Rising Fuel Costs
Lufthansa is canceling 20,000 short-haul flights until October to offset doubled jet fuel costs. This cut, less than 1% of capacity, aims to save 40,000 metric tons of fuel and streamline unprofitable routes. Affected passengers have been notified, and some destinations are temporarily suspended.
Lufthansa has announced the removal of 20,000 short-haul flights from its schedule through October. This measure is intended to mitigate the impact of increased jet fuel costs, which have doubled since the onset of the Iran conflict.
The German airline stated that this reduction represents less than 1% of its total group capacity and is projected to save approximately 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel. The adjustments primarily target unprofitable short-haul flights across the Lufthansa Group network.
Initial cancellations, affecting 120 daily flights, were implemented earlier this week, and passengers have been notified. At least three destinations—Bydgoszcz and Rzeszów in Poland, and Stavanger in Norway—have been temporarily removed from the current flight schedule from Frankfurt. Additionally, ten connections, including flights from Cork, Stuttgart, Gdańsk, and Wroclaw, are being consolidated within the group via other hubs.
Lufthansa anticipates a largely stable fuel supply for its summer timetable and is implementing various strategies, including physical procurement and price hedging, to manage fuel costs.