Lufthansa Group cuts 20,000 flights, tweaks summer schedule amid fuel cost surge due to Iran war

The Lufthansa Group has announced a major optimisation of its summer flight schedule, including the cancellation of around 20,000 short-haul flights across its network through October, as it responds to rising jet fuel costs and shifts in demand.

"The cancellation of flights previously operated by Lufthansa CityLine reduces Lufthansa Group's summer capacity by one per cent of available seat kilometres (ASK). In total, 20,000 short-haul flights will be removed from the schedule through October, equivalent to approximately 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel, the price of which has doubled since the outbreak of the Iran conflict," the airline said in a press release.

The capacity reduction, amounting to less than 1 per cent of available seat kilometres (ASK), will primarily affect unprofitable routes from key hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. The reduction is partly driven by the cancellation of flights operated by Lufthansa CityLine, contributing to a roughly 1 per cent decline in ASK. At the same time, the Group is expanding operations on select routes from Zurich, Vienna, and Brussels to maintain connectivity and improve efficiency.

The airline said the cancellations will result in jet fuel savings of over 40,000 metric tons. Fuel prices have surged significantly following the Iran conflict, prompting airlines globally to reassess operational costs.

Network consolidation across six hubs

The restructuring spans Lufthansa Group’s six major European hubs—Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels, and Rome—and is part of a broader strategy to streamline its short-haul network while preserving long-haul connectivity.

Despite the reductions, the Group emphasised that passengers will continue to have access to its global route network, particularly long-haul connections. While short-haul routes are being trimmed, long-haul connectivity across the Group’s global network remains largely intact. However, due to the increase in jet fuel prices, this will be achieved significantly more efficiently than before.

The move also aligns with Lufthansa Group’s long-term strategy to consolidate operations across its hub airlines, including Lufthansa Airlines, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and ITA Airways.

Immediate and short-term changes

Preliminary modifications have already taken place, with about 120 flights being cancelled each day until May 31. Notice has been given to affected customers.

Among other things, Lufthansa Airlines has suspended certain flights from Frankfurt, such as those heading for Bydgoszcz and Rzeszów in Poland and Stavanger in Norway. Additionally, several routes are being consolidated through other Group hubs, including Heringsdorf, Cork, Gdańsk, Ljubljana, Rijeka, Sibiu, Stuttgart, Trondheim, Tivat, and Wrocław.

Further updates expected soon

The airline group said medium-term planning for the summer schedule is currently underway, with updated route offerings expected to be published in late April or early May. The revised schedule will primarily apply from June onwards as part of the summer timetable. These adjustments aim to enhance schedule stability during the peak travel season.

Fuel supply secured for the coming weeks

Even with all the geopolitical risks in place, it can be noted that Lufthansa Group has confirmed that it will be able to secure its supply of jet fuel for the coming few weeks.

"For the flights scheduled in the summer timetable, the Group expects a largely stable fuel supply. Lufthansa is pursuing a range of measures to this end, including the physical procurement of jet fuel as well as price hedging," the airline said in the release.