Record post-war cancellations from Lufthansa: 20,000 flights grounded

Germany-based Lufthansa Airlines is facing a new crisis following recent strikes. The rapid increase in fuel prices following the Iran war, which began with moves by the US and Israel, has brought radical changes to the company's operations.

According to a statement by company officials, jet fuel prices have doubled due to the effects of the war. For this reason, Lufthansa has been forced to remove 20,000 short-haul flights from its schedule until the end of October 2026. It was reported that the decision aims to save approximately 40,000 metric tons of kerosene fuel.

This change, which is not limited to costs alone, has also led to a reshaping of the company's flight network.

Lufthansa will reorganize flights at its six main hubs, primarily Frankfurt, as well as Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels, and Rome, offering passengers the opportunity to transfer at these centers for long-haul travel. Consequently, direct flights from Germany to Bydgoszcz and Rzeszow in Poland, and Stavanger in Norway, have been completely suspended. Furthermore, passengers will now only be able to travel to certain destinations served by Lufthansa from Germany via connecting flights.

The company stated that the decision has been implemented immediately, with 120 flights canceled on the first day alone, covering the period up to May. It was noted that all passengers with flights scheduled until the end of May have been notified, and the airline is striving to avoid inconveniencing passengers during this crisis period.

This latest development is seen as part of a series of measures taken by Lufthansa against rising costs. It had previously been announced that hundreds of flights were canceled due to staff strikes and that the operations of its subsidiary, Cityline, were suspended due to cost increases.