The German airline "Lufthansa" will cut 20,000 short-haul flights this summer, the BBC reports. The carrier emphasizes that rising fuel prices make many trips unprofitable for the company.
The price of jet fuel has doubled since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran, as the conflict has slowed its production and transportation in the Middle East. Several airlines, including KLM-France and Delta, have also temporarily cut some flights. Others have raised ticket prices, passing the cost on to customers.
The Persian Gulf is a major source of jet fuel, accounting for about 50% of Europe's imports. Most of it comes through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed in response to US and Israeli attacks. The increase in jet fuel prices reflects the role that Middle Eastern refineries play in supplying. The Al-Zour refinery in Kuwait alone supplies about 10% of Europe's jet fuel imports. The International Energy Agency has warned that Europe could run out of jet fuel within weeks.
"Lufthansa" announced it was cutting its European network. The company stressed that passengers would continue to have access to its global network of routes, especially long-haul connections. However, due to rising jet fuel prices, this will be achieved significantly more efficiently than before, Lufthansa said. The carrier added that this will save "approximately 40,000 metric tons of aviation fuel."
The first 120 flight cuts have already been implemented. The routes affected are from Frankfurt to Poland and Norway.