Lufthansa has cancelled 20,000 flights between May and October to save fuel as jet fuel prices double following the Iran war. The German carrier will drop about 120 daily flights from Monday and eliminate unprofitable routes from Munich and Frankfurt until mid-October. Lufthansa estimates these cuts will save approximately 40,000 metric tonnes of jet fuel, with prices having doubled since the outbreak of the Iran conflict.

The airline's decision comes as European transport ministers met to address potential jet fuel shortages, with the International Energy Agency warning Europe has less than six weeks of supplies remaining. The EU is exploring alternatives including sourcing American jet fuel not routinely used in Europe and potentially waiving airport slot requirements. Lufthansa plans to publish its exact summer schedule in late April or early May, promising optimizations to ensure schedule stability for the entire season.

Airlines worldwide are responding to fuel price spikes by cutting routes or raising prices. Delta Air Lines announced plans to cut unprofitable routes to recoup $1 billion in costs, while Asian carriers including Cathay Pacific and Air Asia X have reduced services. Even hedged European carriers like EasyJet and Virgin Atlantic are feeling the impact, with EasyJet warning of larger-than-expected winter losses and Virgin Atlantic struggling to return to profitability this year despite price increases.