European Airlines Cancel Thousands of Routes, Fuel Crisis Caused

European aviation is facing a major crisis. Soaring fuel prices and supply shortages have triggered the cancellation of thousands of routes.

European Airlines Cancel Thousands of Routes, Fuel Crisis Caused
Enlarge
European aviation is facing a major crisis. Soaring fuel prices and supply shortages have triggered the cancellation of thousands of routes. (Unsplash/John McArthur)

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - The European aviation industry faced significant turbulence after housands of flights were canceled by major airlines due to a sharp spike in jet fuel prices in April 2026.

The crisis stemmed from the ongoing geopolitical conflict in Iran, particularly the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

This vital waterway is a key corridor for approximately one-fifth of global oil supplies, and its closure immediately triggered serious disruptions to the energy supply chain.

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and Ryanair were among the first to announce route cancellations, while Lufthansa was also considering similar measures.

Main Causes and Impacts

The aviation fuel crisis that hit Europe in April 2026 centered on geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East: the ongoing war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz caused jet fuel prices to skyrocket, reaching over $1,700 per ton.

Several European airlines have felt the brunt of the crisis.

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has announced the cancellation of approximately 1,000 flights in March and April 2026.

Most of the canceled routes are short-haul flights within the Nordic region, with April expected to be the peak of cancellations.

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary also warned of the possibility of 5% to 10% of flights being canceled between May and July, emphasized that the issue is not just rising prices, but also the physical availability of jet fuel in some locations.

Lufthansa, another major European airline, is considering grounding up to 5% of its fleet, equivalent to around 40 aircraft.

Regional airlines such as Aurigny and Skybus have also canceled flights and introduced fuel surcharges.

Even non-European airlines like United Airlines plan to cut unprofitable routes by around 5% during the second and third quarters of 2026.

Air France-KLM has also introduced surcharges on long-haul flights.

Fuel Restrictions at European Airports

Jet fuel shortages have forced several Italian airports to impose supply restrictions.

Four airports in northern Italy—Milan Linate, Bologna, Venice, and Treviso—have implemented these restrictions.

Short-haul flights are now limited to 2,000 liters of fuel per aircraft.

This is only enough for less than an hour of flight time for a Boeing 737 or Airbus A320.

On April 6, Brindisi, Pescara, and Reggio Calabria also joined the list of airports with fuel restrictions.

Air BP Italia even issued an emergency notice (NOTAM) restricting refueling at these airports until at least April 9.

Financial Implications and Ticket Price Increases

Fuel costs are the largest component of airline operating costs, accounting for approximately 25-30%.

Ticket prices are expected to rise by between 15% and 20% in the short term.

Some Asian airlines have even increased fuel surcharges by up to 20%, with overall ticket prices rising by 30% to 40%.

Cathay Pacific, for example, increased its fuel surcharge by 34% starting April 1.

Every $1 increase in the price of Brent crude oil potentially adds approximately €2.50 to the cost of a round-trip economy ticket from Dublin to Paris.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has issued a serious warning regarding the prospect of this crisis.

The IEA predicts that oil supply shortages could intensify in the coming weeks.