Summer travelers face a threat as jet‑fuel prices climb after hostilities in Iran. Lufthansa reports that tickets booked after the conflict began cost 12 per cent more per kilometre than those purchased earlier. Demand remains steady, yet airlines have only trimmed schedules sparingly.

The conflict has pushed jet‑fuel prices close to doubling, but airlines have so far avoided major cuts because stored supplies keep the market afloat. In Europe, Goldman Sachs estimates that commercial fuel stocks could hit the International Energy Agency’s critical 23‑day threshold by the end of May.

If fuel buffers run dry, airlines will need to cut consumption by 20 percent to match supply. Analysts say that a tripling of fuel costs would force carriers to raise fares by 50 per cent to maintain profits, a move that could cripple low‑cost routes.

Strong, well‑hedged carriers such as British Airways‑parent IAG and Ryanair may keep prices down and capacity up, while weaker rivals could lose market share or ground planes, tightening the already fragile summer travel market.